The Defence Headquarters Nigeria has clarified that recent military assistance provided by the United States to Nigeria is being delivered without any financial obligation to the Nigerian government.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Michael Onoja, director of defence media operations, explained that the collaboration is primarily designed to enhance troop training and reinforce Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations.
Onoja urged Nigerians not to misinterpret the partnership, noting that such cooperation is consistent with existing international military training arrangements that allow Nigerian personnel to undergo capacity-building programmes abroad.
“The American government is interested in combating terrorism, and the assistance rendered to Nigeria comes at no cost,” Onoja said.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s sovereignty remains fully protected, stressing that the presence of foreign military personnel does not undermine the country’s territorial integrity or national security framework.
Onoja added that military authorities, including theatre commanders and chief security officers in conflict-prone regions, remain actively involved in operational decisions and are implementing measures aimed at preventing renewed attacks.
He further appealed to citizens to concentrate on the operational benefits of the partnership rather than the number of foreign troops deployed.
Earlier, on February 16, the Defence Headquarters confirmed the arrival of approximately 100 United States military personnel alongside operational equipment at the Bauchi airfield.
Defence Director of Information, Samaila Sani, said the deployment followed the implementation of a bilateral security understanding between Nigeria and the US government.
According to Uba, the Nigerian government formally requested support from the United States covering specialised military training, technical assistance, and intelligence-sharing for members of the Nigerian Armed Forces as part of efforts to strengthen ongoing security operations nationwide.
