The Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, has stated that it would be diplomatically improper for the United States to carry out any military operation within Nigeria without the formal approval of the Nigerian government.
Bwala made this known during an interview with the BBC World Service on Monday, emphasizing that Nigeria is a sovereign nation whose internal security affairs must be handled in line with international diplomatic protocols.
His remarks followed recent comments by former US President Donald Trump, who listed Nigeria among countries of particular concern over alleged persecution of Christians. Trump reportedly warned that the West African nation could lose US assistance if it failed to address its insecurity challenges and also hinted at possible US military action targeting terrorist groups in Nigeria.
Reacting, Bwala said the former US president’s statements had been “largely misunderstood,” adding that the matter would likely be clarified when President Tinubu meets with his American counterpart in the coming days.
He also acknowledged the US government’s past support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, describing Trump’s approval of arms sales to Nigeria during his first term as “a gesture of goodwill.”
“We remain grateful to President Donald Trump for approving the sale of military equipment that boosted Nigeria’s fight against insurgency during his first term,” Bwala noted. “In his second term, his renewed commitment to supporting counterterrorism operations in Nigeria is commendable, but such interventions must be based on verified intelligence, not speculation or online narratives.”
Addressing Trump’s threat of potential military involvement, Bwala maintained that any US action must be done in collaboration with the Nigerian authorities.
“If the operation is conducted jointly with the Nigerian government, that would be appropriate,” he said. “However, unilaterally invading a sovereign nation would be a breach of diplomatic norms—especially when that nation is a key ally in regional and global security efforts.”
Bwala further dismissed claims of a targeted “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, stressing that insecurity in the country affects citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
He reiterated that Nigeria’s government remains committed to combating terrorism and safeguarding all citizens, and that international cooperation must always respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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