- US troops in Nigeria are only for training and advisory roles.
- Nigerian military remains fully in charge of operations.
- Defence Minister Christopher Musa clarifies US presence.
- Nigeria and the US recently strengthened military cooperation.
Nigeria’s Defence Minister Christopher Musa has clarified that US troops in Nigeria are present strictly for training and advisory purposes, stressing that the Nigerian Armed Forces remain fully in command of all military operations within the country.
The clarification was made during the maiden edition of the Monthly Operational Briefing held at the Ministry of Defence conference room in Abuja on Wednesday.
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According to a statement released by Timothy Antigha, Special Adviser on Media to the minister, Musa used the briefing to address concerns about the role of American troops currently in the country.
He stressed that the presence of US troops in Nigeria should not be misunderstood, noting that their role is limited to supporting the Nigerian military with training and strategic advice.
“The Americans are in Nigeria on a purely training assistance and advisory role,” Musa said.
He also made it clear that the sovereignty of Nigeria’s military operations remains intact.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will be in command of all operations conducted within the nation’s territory,” he added.
During the briefing, the defence minister also reviewed ongoing military operations across the country and assessed current security threats facing Nigeria.
Musa commended the courage and professionalism of Nigerian troops who continue to confront security challenges in different parts of the country.
According to the statement, he praised their resilience and dedication while reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving their welfare and strengthening the operational efficiency of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“General Musa commended the professionalism, resilience, and gallantry of Nigerian troops and reaffirmed the commitment of his ministry to supporting troops’ welfare and improving operational efficiency,” the statement noted.
The clarification comes months after the United States deployed ground troops to Nigeria following a new security cooperation agreement between both countries.
The partnership was reached after the United States redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over security and religious freedom issues.
The agreement has since led to increased military collaboration aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to tackle security threats and improve defence operations.