Bwala Warns U.S. Against Unilateral Military Action in Nigeria, Reaffirms Nation’s Sovereignty
Presidential aide Daniel Bwala has warned the U.S. against any military operation in Nigeria without approval.
He said such action would violate the country’s sovereignty and diplomatic principles.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has cautioned that it would be diplomatically wrong for the United States to carry out any form of military operation in Nigeria without the express approval of the Federal Government.
Speaking during an interview with the BBC World Service, Bwala emphasized that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation whose territorial integrity must be respected. He said any foreign involvement in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges must be based on collaboration and mutual understanding.
Bwala’s remarks came in response to statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged attacks on Christians. Trump had warned that Nigeria must “move fast” to end insecurity or risk losing U.S. support, adding that America’s “department of war” could be deployed to confront terrorist groups in the country.
Reacting to the comment, Bwala maintained that Trump’s words were likely misunderstood and would be clarified when President Tinubu meets with him in the coming days. He dismissed claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, stressing that insecurity affects people of all faiths.
“We are grateful to President Donald Trump because during his first term, he approved arms sales that helped Nigeria fight insurgency,” Bwala said. “In his second term, he has shown renewed interest in combating Boko Haram, which we welcome. But such actions must rely on verified intelligence, not isolated reports or social media narratives.”
Bwala insisted that any U.S. military operation must be conducted in partnership with the Nigerian government. “If it is a joint action with Nigeria, that is fine,” he said. “But diplomatically, it is wrong to invade a sovereign country without collaboration, especially one that is your partner in the fight against insecurity.”
