The Nigerian military says the planned withdrawal of United States troops from Nigeria does not signal a breakdown of bilateral security cooperation between both countries. Samaila Uba, the spokesperson for the Defence Headquarters, spoke on Tuesday while responding to questions from journalists at a security briefing organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). The military spokesperson said he had received numerous inquiries from journalists seeking clarification on the matter.
He noted that he had already prepared a statement and would use the opportunity provided by the forum to deliver it. The New York Times reported the planned withdrawal last week.
However, in July, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Dagvin Anderson, stated that “much of our forces” have been “withdrawn.” “They are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that’s necessary,” Mr Anderson added.
Mr Uba, a major general, described the move as a routine adjustment tied to specific operational objectives rather than a termination of bilateral defence relations. “The Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States personnel should not be interpreted as a breakdown or termination of the Nigeria-United States security partnership,” Mr Uba said.
He said the defence relationship between Nigeria and the United States remains “strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial.” According to him, the deployment of US personnel was linked to specific operational and counter-terrorism missions, making the drawdown part of the evolving nature of military cooperation. He added that key aspects of the partnership, including intelligence cooperation, military training and information sharing, remain in place.
“Our cooperation with the United States is designed to strengthen our capabilities through intelligence sharing, training, technical assistance and other forms of professional