Columnist criticizes Nigeria-US cooperation — Premium Times Nigeria
In Nigeria, columnist Jibrin Ibrahim criticized the deepening security and economic cooperation between the government of President Bola Tinubu and the United States. In an article for Premium Times Nigeria, he said that the authorities provide insufficient information to the public about the content of the agreements with Washington and their possible impact on the country's sovereignty.
Equipment deliveries
Ibrahim noted that the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) reported on its website that it had transferred military equipment to Nigeria. According to the command, the delivery took place under a foreign military sales agreement between the US and Nigerian militaries.
AFRICOM stated that the delivery is intended to strengthen the efforts of Nigerian forces in the fight against terrorism in the region. The command also stressed that military support for the Nigerian Armed Forces is provided at the country's invitation and is based on respect for its sovereignty.
The columnist also cited a statement by AFRICOM commander Dagvin Anderson that the United States reduced the number of its military personnel in Nigeria after a May operation in the Lake Chad Basin. According to Anderson, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as the second-highest-ranking representative of the Islamic State group, was killed during the operation.
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Call for transparency
According to Ibrahim, Nigeria and the United States have been negotiating a trade agreement for several months and are now discussing, among other things, US investments in the critical minerals sector. The columnist expressed concern over the lack of public information about the terms of the security and trade arrangements.
He also mentioned the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group. According to the author, it is co-chaired by Nigeria's National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker.
Ibrahim called on the authorities to explain the legal basis, boundaries and rules of engagement with the American side, as well as to report on mechanisms for parliamentary oversight and accountability for possible harm to civilians. The text is an opinion column and contains assessments of US policy and the actions of the Nigerian government.
