A coalition of Nigerians in the United States has faulted recent comments made by US lawmaker Kimberly Daniels, particularly her call for the removal of Bello Matawalle, describing the remarks as misguided and potentially harmful to Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The group, operating under the name Nigerian-American Coalition for Strategic Stability (NACSS), said such interventions from foreign actors often reflect a limited understanding of Nigeria’s security realities and may distort public perception of the country’s defence structure.
In a statement issued by its convener, Maxwell Akarachi, the coalition argued that Nigeria’s security challenges are driven by complex factors, including cross-border criminal activities and structural weaknesses, rather than being attributable to any single public official.
It stressed that isolating individual office holders based on unverified claims could undermine ongoing security operations and weaken coordinated national responses to insecurity.
The group also noted that since Matawalle’s appointment under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he has been involved in broader security efforts aimed at strengthening military coordination, intelligence sharing, and stabilisation operations in affected regions.
While acknowledging that security challenges persist, the coalition claimed there have been some gains in disrupting armed groups and improving access to previously troubled communities.
It further cautioned that external commentary on Nigeria’s internal security affairs should be approached with care, urging international partners to focus on collaboration rather than criticism.
The group concluded by calling on Nigerians both at home and abroad to support national institutions and avoid narratives it described as capable of weakening confidence in the country’s security system.
