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The Defence Headquarters has dismissed concerns that the reported withdrawal of about 200 United States military personnel from Nigeria signals a breakdown or termination of the country’s security partnership with Washington.
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the Nigeria–U.S. security relationship remained strong and enduring, describing the adjustment in American military presence as part of the evolving nature of bilateral security cooperation.
Uba explained that the deployment of the U.S. personnel was linked to specific operational and counter-terrorism objectives, stressing that the withdrawal of some personnel should not be interpreted as an end to the wider security partnership between the two countries.
According to him, critical areas of cooperation, including intelligence sharing, training, information exchange, technical assistance and professional military engagement, would continue.
The Defence Information Director emphasised that the primary responsibility for defending Nigeria and protecting its citizens remained with the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other national security agencies.
He, however, noted that the partnership with the United States was designed to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian security forces through access to intelligence, training, technical support and other forms of military cooperation.
Uba further disclosed that Nigeria and the United States could conduct joint operations, including strikes, whenever both countries jointly assess that such action is necessary to address identified security threats.
He maintained that the bilateral security partnership had continued to produce positive results in Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism and other transnational security challenges.
The Defence Headquarters consequently urged the media and the public to exercise caution in interpreting the adjustment in U.S. military presence, stressing that it neither represented a collapse of Nigeria’s security cooperation with the United States nor a weakening of the country’s national defence capability.
It assured that Nigeria–U.S. security cooperation would continue across areas of mutual interest, as both countries work together to confront terrorism, transnational threats and other emerging security challenges.
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