The Nigerian federal government has addressed public concerns and speculation regarding the presence of United States military personnel in the country, emphasizing that they are strictly non-combat advisers providing intelligence support and training assistance at Nigeria's explicit request.
The clarification comes in response to a recent announcement by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which confirmed the deployment of a small team of American personnel to bolster ongoing counter-terrorism efforts. AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin Anderson stated during remarks in Dakar that the deployment was initiated at Nigeria's request and is limited to 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.
Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd) reinforced this position in an interview with the BBC, describing the US team as a small advisory group that supports intelligence gathering and training initiatives. He stressed that the personnel are not combat troops and provided no further details on the team's size, exact arrival date, locations, or duration of their stay.
The cooperation builds on recent joint efforts, including air interdiction operations conducted on December 25, 2025, in Nigeria's North-West and North-Central regions, targeting terrorism and violent extremism in collaboration between the US military and Nigeria's Armed Forces.
The announcement has sparked debate over national sovereignty, prompting reactions from political figures. All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, speaking on ARISE Television, dismissed fears of foreign intervention, describing the arrangement as a fully coordinated bilateral effort.
"What we know is that the US government and Nigerian authorities are working very closely to defeat terrorism in our country," Morka said.
He highlighted that terrorism has caused immense suffering to Nigerians and affirmed President Bola Tinubu's commitment to all necessary measures to eliminate threats and restore security.
Morka added that the partnership does not compromise Nigeria's independence, as both governments are jointly involved in decision-making. "This is a coordinated effort. Whatever is agreed at the table is what will be implemented," he stated, emphasizing the shared priority of protecting Nigerian lives and defeating terrorist groups.
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