THE United States is reportedly making plans to deploy approximately 200 additional troops to Nigeria as part of an expanded security partnership between the two nations, according to a report by The New York Times.
News Point Nigeria reports that the proposed deployment would be in addition to a small team of U.S. special forces already operating in the country to assist Nigerian authorities in addressing insecurity and terrorism.
According to U.S. officials quoted in the report, the additional troops will not engage in combat operations but will instead focus on training Nigerian security personnel and providing technical expertise.
“The U.S. troops will be assigned to locations across Nigeria to provide training and technical expertise,” a U.S. official was quoted as saying.
The report noted that the new deployment would augment an existing American team that has been in Nigeria for several weeks, assisting local forces in identifying potential terrorist targets using shared U.S. and Nigerian intelligence resources.
The deepening cooperation follows recent high-level engagements between both countries.
Last week, the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Dagvin R. Anderson, confirmed that a U.S. team of experts had already been dispatched to Nigeria.
“I was able to meet President Tinubu,” Anderson said. “We were able to share some thoughts and agree that we needed to work together on a way forward in the region. That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, including a small U.S. team that brings unique capabilities from the United States to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years.”
Gen. Anderson’s deputy, Lt. Gen. John Brennan, had earlier visited Abuja to announce a closer military partnership between the two nations. President Bola Tinubu also hosted top U.S. security officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last week.
American interest in Nigeria’s security situation intensified after former U.S. President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” late last year over alleged religious persecution.
Trump had previously threatened strong action over what he described as targeted violence against Christians, directing the Pentagon to prepare for possible measures concerning Nigeria.
The Nigerian government denied allegations of religious persecution, maintaining that insecurity in the country is not faith-based but driven by terrorism, banditry, and criminality.
In response to growing diplomatic pressure, President Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to Washington for high-level consultations.
In December, an American delegation led by Congressman Riley Moore reportedly tasked with probing allegations of genocide against Christians visited Nigeria and held direct engagements with victims of insecurity.
Security collaboration between both nations reached a notable peak during the Christmas Day bombing of ISIS-linked targets in Sokoto State.
Reports indicated that U.S. surveillance aircraft operating from Ghana conducted aerial missions over parts of Nigerian territory, relaying intelligence data to joint American and Nigerian military analysts who identified potential terrorist targets.
While U.S. officials maintain that American forces will not engage directly in combat operations, the expanded presence underscores Washington’s growing involvement in regional counterterrorism efforts.
The 200 troops, once deployed, are expected to operate across multiple locations within Nigeria, strengthening training programs and enhancing intelligence-sharing frameworks.
The move signals a significant expansion of bilateral military cooperation as Nigeria continues to confront insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and other emerging security threats across the country.
Further official confirmation from FG on the deployment is expected in the coming days.