By James Amoh Junior
Accra, March 11, GNA – Information cited by Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, on United States–Nigeria security cooperation had already been reported in international media months before his recent remarks at a policy discussion at Chatham House in London.
Mr Fred Duhoe, Media Relations Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Minister only referenced previously published reports on US-Nigeria security collaboration during discussions on regional security and violent extremism in West Africa.
The clarification follows social media claims suggesting that Mr Ablakwa had disclosed classified information about Ghana’s security cooperation with the United States in relation to insurgency in Nigeria.
Mr Duhoe said a review of credible international media reports showed that details of the cooperation had been widely reported between November 2025 and February 2026.
According to the records, on November 19, 2025, Al Jazeera published a feature titled “Cooperation, not threats: Nigeria wants US alliance to curb violent attacks,” in which Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris Malagi, highlighted Abuja’s interest in strengthening security ties with the United States to address escalating extremist attacks.
The report said Nigeria was seeking stronger cooperation with Washington to combat terrorism and violent extremism affecting parts of the country.
On December 26, 2025, Anadolu Agency also reported that Nigeria had confirmed ongoing security cooperation with the United States to address terrorist threats.
The report said Nigerian authorities acknowledged continued collaboration with the United States in tackling terrorism and violent extremist activities.
Further reports published on February 11 and 12, 2026 by international media outlets, including Reuters, indicated that the United States planned to deploy about 200 troops to Nigeria to support the Nigerian military with counter-terrorism training.
The reports noted that the American personnel would provide technical training and advisory support and would not engage in combat operations, while Nigerian forces would retain full operational command.
Mr Duhoe, who was at the Chatham House discussions in London, said the information cited by the Foreign Affairs Minister during the Chatham House engagement was based on those publicly available reports and could not be considered classified.
He said the remarks were made during a high-level policy discussion on rebuilding regional order and strengthening security cooperation in the Sahel and West Africa.
Mr Duhoe added that Ghana remained committed to regional security cooperation and intelligence sharing to address violent extremism across West Africa.
He cited Ghana’s role in convening the High-Level Consultative Conference on Regional Cooperation and Security held in Accra from January 29 to 30, 2026, which brought together stakeholders to strengthen collaboration against emerging security threats in the sub-region.
Mr Duhoe said available evidence showed that the information discussed at Chatham House had already been reported by globally recognised media outlets months earlier.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba