Former member of the House of Representatives, Oghene Egoh, has called on the federal government to strengthen its partnership with the U.S. to address the growing insecurity in the country.
Mr Egoh made the plea in Lagos on Monday.
The former lawmaker, who represented Amuwo-Odofin federal constituency, noted that the persistent killings in Plateau and Benue and other states, which President Donald Trump described as Christian genocide, had now spread to parts of the North-West, where Muslims were also being attacked and killed.
He said the situation underscored the need for urgent collaboration between Nigeria and the United States to curb the menace of terrorism and insurgency.
Mr Egoh noted that the United States serves as a second home to many Nigerians, with nearly half a million citizens residing there, either working or studying.
He recalled that the American government once described Nigerians in the U.S. as one of the most educated ethnic groups, with a high percentage holding first and second degrees.
He expressed confidence that any collaboration between Nigeria and the United States on security matters would yield mutual benefits for both nations.
According to him, any intervention or cooperation from the U.S. government will help restore peace and stability, benefiting both Christians and Muslims across the country.
”The United States coming to Nigeria is a welcome development, as it will help to provide lasting solutions to insurgency, which affects both Muslims and Christians,” he said.
He, however, urged the American government to diplomatically collaborate with the Nigerian government to solve the issue in the best interest of Nigerians.
Mr Egoh further urged the federal government to prioritise intelligence sharing, military training, and joint operations with international partners to combat insecurity effectively.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s commitment and proactive efforts in combating insurgency and other security challenges in the country.
He noted that the issue of insecurity had persisted across successive administrations and had now grown beyond normal control.
He acknowledged that the present administration was making concerted efforts to restore peace and stability across the country, adding that with collaboration with the U.S., banditry, insurgency, and other related security challenges would become things of the past.
”If the United States security team collaborates with Nigeria’s security agencies, banditry, insurgency, and other related security challenges will become things of the past,” Mr Egoh said.
