Nigeria has halted US training of the Nigerian army to confront the extremist Boko Haram sect, in the latest sign of strained ties between the two countries.
Nigerian officials did not provide reasons for the decision Monday, but the United States government said it regretted the move.
“At the request of the Nigerian government, the United States will discontinue its training of a Nigerian Army battalion,” the U.S. government, through its embassy in Abuja, said in a statement.
Relations between the two countries have been at a record low with Nigeria accusing the United States of not providing sufficient support for its fight against Boko Haram.
After months of informal allegations, the Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S. Ade Adefuye, had in November openly accused the United States of refusing to sell arms and equipment to Nigeria to help defeat Boko Haram.
In its response, the American government said it has supported Nigeria to the extent its law permits, and accused the Nigerian security forces of human rights violations.
The U.S. said its laws disallow sales of arms to countries with such human rights record.
Even so, the American government said it has provided some military equipment to Nigeria.
The two countries are not also relating well economically after the U.S. fully suspended buying Nigerian crude oil in July, a decision that helped plunge Nigeria into one of its most severe financial crises as oil price falls to a seven-year low.
It is not clear whether the latest decision to suspend the military training relates to previous economic and military incidents between the two countries.
Nigeria’s supervising Minister for Information, Nurudeen Mohammed, could not be reached immediately, as well as presidential spokespersons, Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe,.
But the U.S. government said in its statement that the first two phases of the training were conducted between April and August 2014, and had provided previously untrained civilian personnel with basic soldiering skills.
“Based on mutual assessment of the Nigerian Army and U.S. trainers, a third iteration of training was agreed upon with the intent of developing the battalion into a unit with advanced infantry skills.
“We regret premature termination of this training, as it was to be the first in a larger planned project that would have trained additional units with the goal of helping the Nigerian Army build capacity to counter Boko Haram,” it said.
The statement however said the U.S. government would continue other aspects of its extensive bilateral security relationship, as well as all other assistance programs, with Nigeria.
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PLS FORGET ABOUT US..
ReplyDeleteWhy did they not adopt the same approach in fighting Isis? Hypocrites and parasites.
ReplyDeleteIf we shun. Corruption in Nigeria, this is an opportunity to focus on internal capacity development. Our only enemy is corruption
Is this training to develop a battalion with advanced infantry skills a special training that does not require use of arms?
ReplyDeleteAmericans want to see Nigeria destroyed but God will disappoint them.
They did not deny themselves weapons when American troops were violating human rights in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are tacitly or actively supporting the insurgents. America of today is the world's biggest problem
Satanic Obama country, go to hell with your so call assistance and training , we don't need it. Satan has sent the U.S. to come destroy Nigeria. Nijer be wise
ReplyDeleteThey are targeting Nigerian because we said no to their gay marriage. Also they want to cause economic and political chaos so that their prediction of the disintegration of Nigeria by 2015 will come to pass. US is a place where blacks are killed like fowl and prisoners water boarded and they have the guts to mention human right to us . Nigeria should look both inwards and to Russia and china and call the evil empire s bluff
ReplyDeleteTraining them to fight with bare hands abi? Nigeria should understand that America is out to further their interest and it does not mind how this interest is achieved and maintained. If Shell and Chevron were still monopolizing Nigeria oil would America and Britain act this way.
ReplyDeleteNorthern leaders should know this and find a way of solving the problem of insurgency cos it is sad that this once beautiful part of Nigeria is been gradually destroyed by people unknowingly playing into the hands of enemies of this country. "peace is priceless,terror is senseless" Nigeria shall overcome its problems by God's grace.Ameen
Good for us. Nobody should help us. We can't seem to do a thing for ourselves. We always beed help.
ReplyDeleteAmerica is a cancer, where ever her interest lies there must be anarchy. The US is arrogantly selfish to the extent of meddling with the internal affairs of other Nations. Nigeria must break it's tie with US and form a formidable partnership or bilateral relationship with the Eastern bloc. US wants to see Nigeria disintegrate God will not allow it in Jesus name.
ReplyDeletethis hypocrites called america.Godshall see Nigeria tthrough this tryiang times.
ReplyDeleteGod help us
ReplyDeleteAll those talking nonsense about the US are being unrealistic. Why blaming the U.S. for our woes? This should teach us a lesson to learn how to help ourselves, all we know and do I this country is to steal, cheat and pretend all is well with us. Corruption is our second identity, the U.S. understand all these as they are aware that these weapons we are asking for would find their way into the hands of these insurgents going by the way our military is - corrupted by the politicians. And if that happens, that is, the weapons getting across totally he insurgents, the war will not only be prolonged, but become more deadly. So we should sit up and look inwards. Nigeria and Brazil started the defence industry the same year, but while Brazil is manufacturing and exporting advanced fighters to the world, our defence industry cannot even make a rifle.
ReplyDeleteAt least we have someone with a brain in house. Not all those pple that have been saying rubbish blaiming America for not aiding their corruption process our army General are either with fat tommy or far account off shore and you fool are there castigating a wise and transparent US are we so brain wash by these our leaders that we talk with one side of our brain??????
DeleteAmerica is not a dependable ally. Nigeria should redefine her relationship with America and her supporting nations such as Britain our colonial master and also France. For cancelling the programme, thank you Mr. president for this singular action in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteA good move. America refuses to allow Isreal supply Nigeria with its retired 40 year old Cobra attack helicopters. Yet it supplies updated Apache attack helos to Eygpt- a country with a worse human rights record than Nigeria. America supplies advanced weaponry to Saudi Arabia, Bharain, UAE and other Gulf States which are not by any strech of immagination Democracies or countries with a track record of human rights (see how women are treated in these countries). A friend in need is a friend indeed. America IS NO FRIEND of Nigeria and should thus leave us alone- we should even go further and scrap the US-Nigeria Bi-National Commission. We should also look inwards and look to other countries like China and Russia for our millitary acquisition needs. As far as attack helicopters go, we could purchase the MI-28E Havoc helo from Russia or the WZ-10 attack helo from China.
ReplyDeleteLet's get it straight: America is tired of this corrupt nation called Nigeria. They are tired of our corruption and our incompetence. For every $100 generated in the oil industry, $60 is stolen by those who claim to be our leaders. You critics of USA should look inward at the disaster in our country: 80% unemployment among university graduates, no health facilities, no electricity, no good drinking water, etc. The only two industries that thrive in the country are politics and corruption. Everything else is dead! If America walks away from Nigeria, that's bad for the country because America is one country that will speak up about bad things going on, unlike China and Russia who will look the other way because their interest is only economic. Let's stop fooling ourselves, thinking that America is our equal; they are not. Go to the US embassy in any part of Nigeria and see how many Nigerians are clamoring to come to America; on the other hand, go to the Nigerian embassy in USA and see how many Americans are jumping over each other to come to Nigeria. Right there will tell you the whole story. We practise their political system, but in our usual corrupted fashion, and that's why it does not work for us. We blame the British for the corruption in Nigeria, which is nonsense. We are corrupt and incompetent, that's the truth. Let's be willing to learn from those who know better, instead of trying to rub shoulders with them. i don't blame them for not selling sophisticated weapnry to us; that's just too dangerous, knowing our antecedents. Don't blame America or anyone else for our woes. We are what we are because that's what we strive to be. If america does not train our special forces, that's a loss to us, not to America. Our country has gone to hell, let's accept it.
ReplyDeleteNigeria Halts US Military Training? I wonder if it has anything to do with the escalating CIA/Mossad (aka Boko Haram) attacks on Nigerian women and children? Meanwhile, there is pressure within the country to strengthen ties with China. Time for another proxy war?
ReplyDelete