Recent media reports on U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation may have led some to question the United States’ willingness to support Nigeria’s war on terrorism.  Our support is unwavering and comes from the highest levels of the U.S. government.  When I presented credentials to President Goodluck Jonathan almost one year ago, I told him the United States stands with Nigeria in its efforts to defeat Boko Haram.  That commitment is as true today as it was then said Ambassador James F. Entwistle .

He continued , Our support to Nigeria’s war against terror takes many forms and has been consistent from the beginning.  It involves military training as well as information sharing.  Security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria promotes the professionalization of Nigeria’s security forces and strengthens their contributions to international peacekeeping missions.  Our cooperation emphasizes a whole-of government approach that underlines the importance of human rights, civilian protection, and adherence to rule of law at all levels as key tools in the fight against terror.

Over the years, the United States has always been willing to share appropriate military equipment with Nigeria.  That remains the case today but must be understood in the context of our global policy on arms transfers.  The U.S. government undertakes a rigorous evaluation process before proceeding with the sale of military equipment to any country, including Nigeria.  The U.S. Departments of State and Defense review all potential arms transfers for their consistency with U.S. policy and interests, as detailed in the U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer Policy.  This includes any requests from a country that we have sold or donated weapons to resell or donate those same weapons to another country, such as Nigeria.

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