The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has expressed confidence that ongoing collaboration between the Nigerian military and U.S. troops will lead to noticeable improvements in the country’s security in the coming weeks.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, made the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja during a briefing on ongoing military operations.
He said that U.S. troops arrived in Nigeria on Feb. 15, 2025, to support the Armed Forces.
Onoja acknowledged that insecurity persisted in several parts of the country, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the collaboration.
He emphasised, however, that the partnership focused on intelligence sharing and operational training to strengthen Nigeria’s military capacity.
He said that certain details of the cooperation remained confidential due to the sensitivity of ongoing operations.
However, he emphasised that the U.S. assistance was significant and provided on favourable terms to enhance the Armed Forces’ response to emerging threats.
“The impact of this collaboration may not be immediate,” Onoja said, urging Nigerians to remain patient as intelligence support and training gradually translated into tangible outcomes over the coming weeks or months.
The defence spokesman also assured heightened security during the Easter celebrations, explaining that festive periods often came with increased security risks and that the military had placed personnel nationwide on high alert.
“We will not relax during festivities, as adversaries may attempt to exploit such periods.
“Nigerians can be assured that security will be closely monitored and under control throughout Easter.”
