Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has said any decision to allow United States troops on Nigerian soil to combat terrorism would depend on the recommendations of the Nigerian armed forces and relevant security agencies.
He made the remarks during a CNN interview on Friday, following United States military airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day.
When asked whether Nigeria would permit US “boots on the ground” going forward, Tuggar said the issue was outside his immediate responsibility. “These are operational issues that would have to be considered by our military. I am heading foreign policy, I’m heading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy, and it’s something that the Minister of Defence and some of our security agencies would be in a better position to respond to,” he said.
The minister, however, confirmed that Nigeria collaborated with the United States in carrying out the Christmas Day strikes, stressing that the operation was authorised at the highest level of government. “But for now, we have collaborated on this attack. It was a collaborative effort between Nigeria and the U.S., and President Tinubu gave the go-ahead before it took place, and we don’t see it violating our sovereignty or territorial integrity, which is very important,” he said.
Tuggar dismissed suggestions that the joint operation was driven by religious considerations, insisting the focus was solely on security. “And it is not about religion, it’s about the protection of lives and property of Nigerians and our neighbours as well,” he added.
Addressing criticisms surrounding the operation, the foreign minister said the government was prioritising outcomes over philosophical debates. “It’s a matter of what I can only describe as perhaps the choice between deontology and consequentialism,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s approach is firmly focused on achieving tangible results against terrorism. “So for us in this particular matter, we’re focusing more on consequentialism. So the end, the end is to fight against terrorism, to stop the terrorists from killing innocent Nigerians, be they Muslims, Christians, atheists, whatever religion. And to also understand that this is a regional conflict,” Tuggar stated.
He noted that insecurity in Nigeria is linked to wider instability across West and Central Africa. “It is happening in West Africa. It’s happening in the Sahel region. It’s happening in the Lake Chad Basin region,” he said.
Emphasising Nigeria’s openness to international cooperation, Tuggar said the country was willing to work with any partner committed to combating terrorism. “So this is important. But for us, whoever is prepared to work with us to fight terrorism, we’re ready, willing and able,” he added.
The minister said recent developments demonstrated Nigeria’s resolve to confront terrorism despite longstanding challenges. “What took place yesterday clearly underscores the fact that Nigeria is not lacking in will and a commitment to the fight against terrorism,” he said.
He also pointed to institutional constraints Nigeria has faced, including past restrictions imposed by the United States. “We may have institutional challenges, partly due to, for instance, the Leahy Law that stopped the sale of military equipment, both kinetic and non-kinetic, to countries like Nigeria,” Tuggar said.
Recalling developments during Donald Trump’s first term as US president, Tuggar said Nigeria was still able to acquire key military assets. “And I have to say here also that even when the Leahy Law was in effect, President Trump in his first administration acquiesced to the sale of aircraft, military aircraft, the Super Tucano, to Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the aircraft have since been deployed in active operations. “And we appreciate that. And you could see that it was, the aircraft were put to work. And this is a sort of collaborative effort that is required in the fight against terrorism, in securing the region,” he said.
Tuggar further described Nigeria as a frontline state in the global fight against terrorism, citing the concentration of extremist violence in the Sahel. “And we are at the forefront of the fight against terrorism globally, because most of the threat is taking place in the Sahel region,” he said.
According to him, available records show the scale of violence in the region. “And you can even see from the records that the Sahel registered more deaths in terms of terrorist acts than any other part of the world,” he added.
He also rejected attempts to frame the crisis in religious terms. “And when you talk about the Sahel, the majority are Muslims, they’re not Christians,” Tuggar said.
