The Defence Headquarters has clarified the nature of Nigeria’s security cooperation with the United States, following public speculation over the alleged presence of US troops in the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, said the partnership between Nigeria and the United States is long-standing and focused on strengthening Nigeria’s security capacity.
According to him, the collaboration is structured around capacity building, professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support and strategic dialogue.
Uba stressed that all engagements under the partnership are conducted with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and strictly in line with existing bilateral agreements.
He noted that a recent two-day high-level Working Group meeting, involving senior US government officials and their Nigerian counterparts, was held at the Office of the National Security Adviser as part of ongoing cooperation.
Uba explained that the meeting followed earlier engagements in the United States and was aimed at strengthening joint security efforts.
“Discussions at the meeting centred on proposals aimed at strengthening cooperation mechanisms, improving coordination and enhancing accountability in joint efforts to counter terrorism and other transnational threats, while prioritising the protection of civilians and community safety,” he said.
He added that the proposals are still being reviewed by relevant Nigerian authorities.
“Our partnerships remain transparent, policy-driven and aligned with constitutional provisions,” Uba said.
