Oghene Egoh, a former lawmaker who represented Amuwo-Odofin federal constituency in the House of Representatives, says military collaboration with the U.S. will assist Nigeria in addressing its lingering security challenges.

Mr Egoh disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said the development is a step in the right direction, adding that the country’s security situation required urgent and strategic international support.

He said that undue political interference within Nigeria’s military circle had continued to undermine effective security operations, as external collaboration would strengthen operational efficiency and intelligence gathering.

According to him, insecurity in Nigeria has persisted for over four decades and remains a complex, inherited challenge confronting successive administrations.

“Therefore, the federal government’s decision to welcome military support from the United States is a positive development aimed at decisively confronting insecurity in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Egoh said the primary objective of such collaboration should be to tackle insecurity comprehensively and restore lasting peace across the country.

He said that activities of bandits, terrorists and militant groups had spread across the South-South and South-East regions with gradual infiltration into parts of the South-West.

The former lawmaker noted that Nigerians are being killed daily by criminal elements and that the security situation required urgent, coordinated and result-oriented intervention.

He added that enhanced military cooperation with global partners such as the United States would provide Nigeria with advanced technology, intelligence-sharing mechanisms and specialised training needed to combat evolving security threats.

Mr Egoh said that any form of foreign military engagement must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and operate strictly within clearly defined legal and operational frameworks.

The former lawmaker called on the federal government to complement external support with internal reforms, including improved welfare for security personnel, better equipment and strengthened community policing strategies to ensure sustainable peace.

(NAN)