The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified that military assistance from the United States does not threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty, describing the partnership as lawful, routine and supportive of the country’s security objectives.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, stated that the support provided by the US comes at no cost to the federal government and is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.
Addressing concerns about the number of American troops in the country, he noted that the exact figure was not the primary issue, as long as their presence contributes to dismantling terrorist networks. He explained that US personnel are engaged strictly in advisory roles, intelligence sharing and capacity-building efforts.
He cautioned against misrepresenting the cooperation, describing it as a standard military-to-military collaboration consistent with global efforts to combat terrorism. According to him, such partnerships are common among countries facing security threats and are meant to enhance operational efficiency rather than compromise national independence.
He further stressed that the support is intended to help create a safer environment for Nigerians and aligns with the US government’s broader counter-terrorism policy.
Earlier, the DHQ reiterated in a statement that the cooperation focuses primarily on training Nigerian troops and boosting nationwide counter-terrorism operations. The statement, signed by the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, indicated that the deployment followed discussions between Nigerian officials and their US counterparts during a joint working group meeting.
