Abuja: The Defence Headquarters has assured that the planned drawdown of more than 200 U.S. personnel from Nigeria will not affect the enduring security partnership between both countries. Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, provided this assurance during the Joint Security News Briefing in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Uba emphasized that the withdrawal should not be seen as a breakdown or termination of Nigeria’s security cooperation with the United States. He stated, ‘The relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains strong, enduring and mutually beneficial.’ Uba highlighted that the deployment of U.S. personnel was tied to specific operational and counter-terrorism objectives, and the drawdown is part of the evolving nature of this engagement.
Uba further explained that despite the adjustment in U.S. troop presence, intelligence cooperation, training, information sharing, and other professional military cooperation areas will continue. He reiterated that the responsibility for defending Nigeria and protecting its citizens rests primarily with Nigerian security forces. The partnership with the United States is designed to enhance Nigeria’s capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, and technical assistance.
Additionally, Uba mentioned that both countries would undertake joint operations, including joint strikes, where there is a jointly assessed need for additional efforts. He highlighted that the partnership has yielded favorable outcomes against terrorism and other transnational security threats.
The Defence spokesman also urged the media and Nigerians not to misinterpret routine adjustments in foreign military deployments as evidence of a collapse in bilateral security cooperation or Nigeria’s defense capability. He reiterated that the military’s primary responsibility remains kinetic operations against terrorists and other armed groups threatening Nigerians, while also supporting non-kinetic interventions as part of a whole-of-society and whole-of-nation approach to tackling insecurity.
Uba stressed that non-kinetic initiatives are state-led, with the military providing support where required, while maintaining its stance against dialogue with terrorists or the payment of ransom. He clarified the importance of distinguishing roles, with the police as the lead agency for internal security and the military providing support to the Nigeria Police Force. The Armed Forces remain focused on defeating armed criminal elements while contributing to broader national efforts to address the root causes of insecurity.