The mind bugging rhetorical question on the mind of every Nigerian regarding insecurity in Nigeria has been whether can the Nigerian Army Partnering with the U.S. Army bring total peace to the country
Nigeria continues to battle multiple layers of insecurity ranging from Boko Haram insurgency and banditry to kidnapping and communal violence. These challenges have not only affected lives and property but have also weakened public confidence in the government of the day and security agencies.
The concern of many Nigerians now is whether a strong partnership between the Nigerian Army and the U.S. Army could bring lasting peace to the nation giving the politicisation of security challenges and non commitment to strategic rejigging of the security architecture of the nation.
A partnership of this nature could yield important gains in many facets including advancement of training and technology. The U.S. military possesses world-class expertise in intelligence, surveillance, and counterterrorism.
Part of the benefits will lead to enhancement in training Nigerian troops in certain strategic areas that could greatly strengthen their operational effectiveness while keying into their intelligence sharing, access to U.S. satellite data and intelligence networks to help track terrorists activities, logistics, and funding sources more accurately.
Improved equipment and logistics collaboration could open doors to modern communication systems; drones, and surveillance tools to improve response time and precision.
Such cooperation could be a boost to morale and engender global support, signal international confidence in Nigeria’s stability and might encourage additional global assistance.
Despite the seemingly succour such collaborative gesture may portend, there are important challenges to consider, key among others is the issue of national sovereignty.
Heavy U.S. involvement may raise concerns about external interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs, possibly enthrone corruption and weak Institutions.Without accountability and political will at home, even advanced training or equipment might not yield results.
The collaboration may throw up the issue of differing operating contexts. U.S. strategies must be tailored to Nigeria’s terrain, culture, and local dynamics to be truly effective, but Nigeria as a nation, should be wary of dependency risk.
Over reliance on foreign partners could weaken Nigeria’s long-term capacity to manage its own security.
While one school of thought believes that the Nigerian–U.S. military partnership could strengthen capacity, intelligence, and morale, another school of thought which I belong, believe that such partnership cannot alone guarantee total peace.
True peace requires more than military might or superiority, it demands political sincerity, economic opportunity, community cooperation, and a transparent, well-motivated security structure.
No doubt, foreign allies can help Nigeria fight insecurity, but only Nigerians can truly end it.
Let government at all levels act in good faith to reshape the future of this country.
