Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has cautioned that it would breach diplomatic norms for the United States to undertake any form of military operation in Nigeria without the explicit approval of the Federal Government.
In an interview with BBC World Service, Bwala emphasized that Nigeria remains a sovereign nation whose internal security affairs must be handled in partnership with foreign allies and with full regard for its territorial integrity.
His statement comes on the heels of recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who on Friday listed Nigeria as a “country of particular concern (CPC)” over alleged persecution of Christians.
Trump had also warned that Nigeria must “move fast” to resolve its insecurity issues or risk losing US assistance.
He further threatened to deploy America’s “department of war” against terrorist groups he claimed were targeting Christians in Nigeria.
Bwala, however, said Trump’s comments were largely misinterpreted, expressing optimism that the matter would be clarified when President Tinubu meets with the US leader in the coming days.
He also lauded Trump for approving arms sales to Nigeria during his first tenure, describing the gesture as one made “in good faith.”
He rejected claims of a religiously motivated genocide in Nigeria, maintaining that the country’s security problems affect citizens of all faiths.
“We are grateful to President Donald Trump because during his first term, he used executive powers to approve 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 efforts must be based on reliable, data-driven assessments, not isolated reports or social media content.”
Responding to Trump’s suggestion of possible direct military action, Bwala stressed that such a move would only be appropriate if conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian authorities.
“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 combating insecurity.
“Such unilateral intervention only occurs when there is intelligence suggesting the government itself is complicit in fuelling a crisis. That is certainly not the case in Nigeria.”
