The Defence Headquarters has dismissed concerns that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel from Nigeria could weaken the country’s security partnership with Washington.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. S. Uba, gave the clarification on Tuesday during the joint security spokespersons briefing, describing the reduction in US military presence as a routine adjustment based on specific operational needs.
Uba said the development should not be viewed as an end to the longstanding security relationship between Nigeria and the United States.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the Nigeria-United States security partnership,” he said.
He maintained that the bilateral relationship remained “strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial”, explaining that the deployment of US personnel had been tied to particular operational and counterterrorism assignments.
“The decision to draw down personnel is therefore part of the evolving nature of that engagement. Elements of the United States security partnership, particularly intelligence cooperation, training and information sharing, will continue,” Uba added.
According to the defence spokesman, Nigeria remains principally responsible for safeguarding its territory and citizens, while US cooperation is focused on improving the capacity of the Nigerian military.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria has consistently maintained that the responsibility for the defence of Nigeria and the protection of its citizens rests primarily with Nigerian security forces,” the DDI said.
He listed intelligence sharing, training, technical support and other forms of professional military cooperation among the areas covered by the partnership.
“Our cooperation with the United States is designed to strengthen our capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance, and other forms of professional military cooperation,” he said.
Uba also said Nigeria and the US could undertake additional operations, including joint strikes, whenever both sides determine that such action is necessary.
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“Where it is jointly assessed that additional efforts, including joint strikes, are required, we do that,” he stated.
He added that the cooperation had produced significant results in efforts to tackle terrorism and other security threats that cross national borders.
“Indeed, the Nigeria-United States partnership has continued to produce valuable outcomes in the fight against terrorism and other transnational security threats,” he said.
Uba consequently urged the public and the media against interpreting the reduction in foreign military personnel as evidence that Nigeria’s security cooperation with the US or its defence capabilities were deteriorating.
“We equally call on the media and the Nigerian public to avoid interpreting a routine or mission-specific adjustment in foreign military presence as evidence of a collapse in Nigerian security cooperation or national defence capability,” he said.
The defence spokesman reaffirmed that the bilateral security relationship remained in place, with both countries expected to sustain cooperation in areas of shared interest.
The clarification followed comments by US officials that most of the additional American forces sent for the Lake Chad operation had returned after completing their mission, while intelligence cooperation and wider security engagement with Nigeria would continue.