The Defence Headquarters on Thursday moved to allay public concerns about the alleged presence of United States troops in Nigeria, saying the bilateral relationship is longstanding, structured and focused on capacity building rather than foreign deployments.
In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, the headquarters said engagements with the US centre on professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support and strategic dialogue, and are conducted with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and in accordance with existing bilateral frameworks.
The clarification followed media reports and speculation over US troop presence. Maj.-Gen. Uba said a recent two‑day high‑level Working Group meeting held at the Office of the National Security Adviser — attended by senior US officials and their Nigerian counterparts — was part of routine cooperation and followed earlier engagements in the United States.
According to the statement, discussions at the meeting focused on proposals to strengthen cooperation mechanisms, improve coordination and enhance accountability in joint efforts to counter terrorism and other transnational threats. Officials emphasised that protecting civilians and community safety remain priorities; the proposals are being reviewed by the relevant Nigerian authorities.
The Defence Headquarters reiterated that all defence partnerships are transparent, policy‑driven and aligned with constitutional provisions. It added that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity without compromising national independence.
