By Peter Adelowo
The Defence Headquarters has dismissed reports and public speculation suggesting the deployment of United States troops in Nigeria.
In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, clarifies that while Nigeria maintains a long-standing security partnership with the United States, there is no foreign troop deployment in the country.
According to the statement, the cooperation between both nations focuses on capacity building, professional military education, intelligence sharing, logistics support and strategic dialogue to address terrorism and other transnational threats.
It stresses that all engagements are conducted with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and within established bilateral agreements.
The statement explains that a recent two-day high-level working group meeting between senior U.S. officials and Nigerian counterparts was held at the Office of the National Security Adviser as part of routine security collaboration.
It notes that proposals from the meeting are still under review by relevant Nigerian authorities.
It reassures Nigerians that all international defence partnerships are transparent, guided by national interest and aligned with constitutional provisions.
It emphasizes that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to protecting the country’s territorial integrity while strengthening its security architecture without compromising national independence.
