Assistance by U.S. Military to Nigeria Comes at No Cost — High Command

By BANNERNEWS Reporter
The Nigerian military high command has clarified that assistance currently being provided by the United States military to Nigeria is at no financial cost to the Federal Government.
The clarification followed public concerns over the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment in the country on February 17, 2026.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the deployment should not be misinterpreted, stressing that Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain fully intact.
He urged critics and stakeholders to avoid viewing the presence of U.S. troops as unusual, noting that military cooperation between nations is a normal global practice.
According to Onoja, the support from the U.S. government is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to tackle insecurity and terrorism through professional collaboration and training.
“The assistance being provided by the United States government to help Nigeria address insecurity is free and intended to create a peaceful environment where citizens can live without threats,” he said.
He explained that the collaboration aligns with America’s global counter-terrorism policy, which focuses on confronting terrorist threats wherever they exist in order to safeguard international security interests.
The senior military officer noted that U.S. personnel in Nigeria are mainly engaged in training programmes, similar to arrangements under which Nigerian military officers regularly travel abroad for capacity development.
Onoja added that early outcomes from the cooperation over the past two months have already shown positive operational impact, with further improvements expected in the coming weeks.
He dismissed concerns about the number of foreign personnel deployed, insisting that attention should instead be placed on the operational value and expertise being transferred to Nigerian forces.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s independence, he stressed that no aspect of the country’s sovereignty had been compromised, describing the engagement strictly as a professional training partnership.
Onoja also called on the media to report security issues responsibly, warning that excessive publicity of terrorist activities could unintentionally promote fear and serve the objectives of insurgent groups, while assuring Nigerians that military commanders remain firmly in control of ongoing security operations nationwide.