The Federal Government has clarified reports surrounding the presence of United States troops in Nigeria, stressing that the deployment is strictly limited to intelligence support and training as part of ongoing cooperation to combat terrorism and insurgency.
The clarification followed an announcement on Tuesday by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which confirmed the deployment of a small team of American personnel to Nigeria.
Speaking in Dakar, Senegal, AFRICOM Commander, General Dagvin Anderson, said the deployment was made at Nigeria’s request and was focused solely on intelligence assistance.
“Our partnership with Nigeria is a great example of a willing and capable ally that requested unique capabilities only the United States can provide,” Anderson said.
The announcement, however, sparked public speculation and concerns over Nigeria’s sovereignty, prompting the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), to address the issue.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Musa explained that the American personnel were not combat troops but a small advisory team supporting intelligence gathering and training initiatives.
He declined to disclose details regarding the size of the team, their arrival date, location or duration of stay.
Recall that on December 25, 2025, the US military, in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, conducted air interdiction operations across several locations in the North-West and North-Central regions as part of renewed international cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.
Despite official assurances, the latest development has reignited public debate, with some Nigerians expressing fears that the presence of foreign troops could undermine the country’s sovereignty.
Reacting to the concerns, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the cooperation between Nigeria and the United States was fully coordinated and posed no threat to national independence.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE Television on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the collaboration was aimed solely at defeating terrorism.
“What we know is that the US government and Nigerian authorities are working very closely to defeat terrorism in our country,” Morka said.
“Terrorism has brought immense pain and suffering to our people, with innocent citizens killed senselessly by these violent actors.”
He added that President Bola Tinubu remained committed to deploying all necessary measures to eliminate terrorist threats and restore security nationwide.
Dismissing suggestions of foreign intervention, Morka said such fears typically arise when host nations are excluded from decision-making processes — a situation he stressed does not apply to Nigeria.
“That is not the case here,” he said. “This is a coordinated effort between the Nigerian government and the United States, with both sides fully involved in all decisions.”
According to him, all actions taken on the ground would strictly reflect agreements jointly reached by both governments.
“Whatever is agreed at the table is what will be implemented,” Morka added, stressing that the protection of Nigerian lives and the defeat of terrorist groups remain the overriding priorities.