Bomba Dauda
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has clarified that United States troops in Nigeria are only providing training and advisory support, stressing that the Nigerian Armed Forces remain fully in charge of all military operations in the country.
Musa made the clarification during the inaugural monthly operational briefing held at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Abuja. The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, service chiefs, and other senior intelligence and operational officials.
Addressing concerns about the role of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), the Defence Minister explained that American personnel are present strictly to assist with training, surveillance, and advisory services, while Nigerian military commanders retain full operational control.
According to the Special Adviser on Media to the Defence Minister, Col. Timothy Antigha (Rtd), the briefing focused on strengthening strategies to combat terrorism, insurgency, and banditry across the country.
Antigha added that the minister commended the dedication of Nigerian troops and reiterated the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to improving their welfare and enhancing operational effectiveness. He noted that the briefing also provided an opportunity for the minister to assess ongoing operations and offer strategic guidance to security agencies.
