The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reaffirmed that Nigeria’s security collaboration with the United States is centred on strengthening local capacity rather than foreign military control, stressing that the partnership prioritises training, intelligence exchange, logistics assistance, and structured strategic engagement to tackle common threats such as terrorism.
The clarification followed public reports suggesting that United States troops had been deployed to Nigeria.
In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the DHQ explained that Nigeria’s engagements with the United States are firmly rooted in existing bilateral agreements and carried out with full respect for the country’s sovereignty.
General Uba assured Nigerians that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully responsible for safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity, noting that cooperation with trusted international partners is designed solely to enhance operational effectiveness and national security outcomes.
According to the statement, Nigeria’s defence partnerships are transparent and guided by clearly defined policies that comply with constitutional provisions. The DHQ stressed that such collaborations are intended to strengthen the country’s security framework without undermining its independence or decision-making authority.
The clarification comes in the wake of comments by a senior United States military official who disclosed that a small American military team had been deployed to Nigeria.
Speaking after the United States carried out strikes against militant targets in Nigeria on December 25, the head of the US Africa Command (Africom), General Dagvin Anderson, said both countries had agreed to deepen cooperation in response to regional security challenges.
“We agreed that we needed to work together on the way forward in the region,” Anderson said during a virtual news conference on Tuesday.
“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations to include a small US team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”
The US general, however, did not provide specific details regarding the composition, mandate, or operational role of the deployed team.
What you should know
Nigeria’s military leadership says reports of US troop deployment should not be misconstrued as foreign military intervention.
The Defence Headquarters maintains that cooperation with the United States focuses on training, intelligence sharing, logistics and strategic dialogue within established agreements.
While a senior US general confirmed the presence of a small team, Nigerian authorities insist all engagements respect national sovereignty and are aimed at strengthening the Armed Forces’ capacity to address terrorism and other security threats.
