Senator Shehu Sani has welcomed US security collaboration with Nigeria, describing it as a needed step in the country’s push for peace.

Sani spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief in the wake of US troops’ arrival in Nigeria.

“We can’t continue to fold our arms while terrorists continue to slaughter and kidnap our people, and then close our doors against support from other countries,” he said on the breakfast show.

“The fight is our fight, but support is very much needed as long as it is a partnership.”

NIGERIA – US DEFENCE COOPERATION: US MILITARY TRAINERS ARRIVE NIGERIA TO SUPPORT NIGERIAN ARMED FORCES

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) wishes to announce the arrival of about 100 United States military personnel and associated equipment at Bauchi Airfield.

The deployment forms… pic.twitter.com/7N3uCRNl2j

— DEFENCE HQ NIGERIA (@DHQNigeria) February 16, 2026

On Monday, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed the arrival of 100 US troops and equipment in Nigeria.

Defence spokesman Samaila Uba said the move came after a security deal between the North American nation and Nigeria.

“The collaboration will provide access to specialised technical capabilities aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s ability to deter terrorists’ threats and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities across the country,” Uba said in a statement.

Critics have questioned the development, raising concerns about Nigeria’s territorial integrity. But Sani, a former Kaduna lawmaker, said while the fears are valid, the country is fighting a bigger battle.

“I have read the strong statement issued by my friends opposed to ‘foreign military presence’ in our country. I share their views on the need for us to protect our ‘sovereignty’,” Sani said.

“I understand their distrust and fears about the US troops on our soil. Unfortunately, our ‘sovereignty’ has already been violated by ‘foreign terrorists’ presence’.

“There is no military anywhere in the world that doesn’t cooperate with the militaries of other nations to achieve its objectives. Even superpowers have to work with others to achieve their goals.”

The arrival of the US troops came months after President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), citing the “killing” of Christians. He threatened military action if the situation is not adressed though Nigerian authorities have denied the claims.

In December, the US launched strikes in Nigeria targeted at terrorists, a move both countries said was jointly carried out.

A high-powered Nigerian delegation also visited the US in the wake of Trump’s comment, while some US lawmakers were in the country for a first-hand assessment of the situation.

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Bola Tinubu, has criticised the President’s leadership, warning that a second term in 2027 could cement what he described as a damaging legacy.

Speaking on Tuesday during an appearance on Political Paradigm on Channels Television, Baba-Ahmed said he has seen no meaningful improvement in governance since leaving office, arguing instead that conditions across the country have worsened.

According to him, insecurity has deepened and economic hardship has intensified, particularly in northern Nigeria. He painted a bleak picture of daily life for many citizens, citing what he called rising desperation and poverty.

“Our nation has been a lot more insecure now than when I left,” he said. “What I see at home and on the streets when people speak — the level of desperation and poverty — is most pronounced, especially in the northern part of the country.”

Baba-Ahmed also accused the President of prioritising political manoeuvring over governance, alleging that efforts are being concentrated on consolidating support among political actors ahead of the next general election.

“I see a president who is amassing politicians around him with the hope that they will deliver him a second term,” he said. “That is poor thinking. It’s not strategic, and it’s not the Tinubu we used to hear about.”

Expressing disappointment over what he described as a troubling leadership trajectory, Baba-Ahmed concluded that a return to office in 2027 could see Tinubu judged harshly by history.

“I’m sorry to say that I think President Tinubu will make the worst president if he returns to power in 2027,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to use the 2026 Lenten and Ramadan fasts to promote unity and stability, and also pray for the security of Nigeria.

Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed, said that for Christians, the Lenten season is a time for fasting, abstinence, and penitence, following Jesus Christ’s example in the wilderness before His crucifixion, which brought salvation to mankind.

According to him, Ramadan, for Muslims, is a hallowed season that reflects total submission to God Almighty and His command of sacrifice, devotion, service, and communal love and giving.

The President noted that occurence of this year’s Lent and Ramadan on the same day is a reminder that as a people of faith, “we share a lot in common and are one people under God”.

“This year, Lent and Ramadan begin on the same day. This is not a common occurrence, and it reminds us that as a people of faith, we share a lot in common and are one people under God.

“For Christians, the Lenten season is a time for fasting, abstinence, and penitence, following Jesus Christ’s example in the wilderness before His crucifixion, which brought salvation to mankind.

“For Muslims, Ramadan is a hallowed season that reflects total submission to God Almighty and His command of sacrifice, devotion, service, and communal love and giving. It marks one of the five pillars of Islam. Beyond the obligatory fasting, Ramadan calls for deep spiritual reflection in obedience to Islam’s injunctions,” he stated.

While urging Nigerians to promote peace, Tinubu said, “As a nation and as a people, I urge us, as we embark on these important observances, to ensure good neighbourliness, promote peace, unity, and stability, and pray for the progress and security of our nation.

“Let us live by the good precepts of our faiths and be honourable in our duty to God and fellow humans. I pray that the lessons, blessings, and joys of these sacred seasons abide with us always.”