The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has firmly denied any plans to establish a United States military base in Nigeria, clarifying that the ongoing military partnership with the US is strictly limited to professional training, intelligence sharing, operational capacity development, and technical collaboration.
The statement was made by the Director of Defence Information, Major General SM Uba, during an X Space discussion on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Uba addressed growing public concerns and speculation regarding the nature and extent of military cooperation between the Nigerian Armed Forces and the United States Army.
“The partnership between the Nigerian Armed Forces and the United States does not imply the establishment of a U.S. military base in Nigeria,” Major General Uba emphasized. “It is purely based on bilateral military cooperation to support training, improve operational capacity, and facilitate intelligence sharing.”
He explained that such engagements are not unique to the United States, as Nigeria maintains similar defence partnerships with several other countries. These collaborations include joint military training exercises, strategic intelligence exchanges, technical cooperation, and institutional knowledge-sharing programs aimed at adopting global best practices and enhancing operational efficiency.
Uba stressed that these initiatives are designed to bolster the Nigerian military’s ability to respond effectively to the country’s diverse and evolving security challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and transnational organized crime.
He reiterated that all international defence partnerships are conducted with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and national interests.
“The engagements are structured in a way that respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and national interest,” Uba said. “There are no plans whatsoever for the establishment of any foreign military base in Nigeria.”
The clarification comes amid ongoing security concerns across various regions of the country and reflects Nigeria’s policy of maintaining strategic, mutually beneficial defence relationships while preserving full national control over its security policies and territorial decisions.
