Pressure Mounts On Tinubu To Sack Matawalle As U.S. Insists On Defence Ministers’ Removal Before Security Collaboration.
Pressure is intensifying within Nigeria’s political and diplomatic circles as the United States government has reportedly insisted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must overhaul his defence leadership—particularly removing Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle before deeper security cooperation can advance, SaharaReporters has learnt.
According to high-level sources in Abuja and Washington, recent negotiations on counterterrorism support, arms transfers, intelligence sharing, and joint operations have stalled following persistent concerns raised by U.S. security officials over “credibility, accountability, and coordination issues” within Nigeria’s defence ministry.
The U.S. government is said to be demanding leadership changes as a precondition for expanding strategic security collaboration, particularly in areas involving sensitive intelligence and advanced military hardware. Sources said Washington has privately communicated that its security agencies “cannot fully engage” as long as key defence officials currently in office remain part of the system.
Matawalle’s role has become the primary point of contention. Diplomats familiar with the talks described him as “a stumbling block” in the eyes of American negotiators, who reportedly expressed doubts over his reliability in critical security matters, especially those involving classified information.
The situation has now sparked intense political pressure on President Tinubu. Senior presidency officials, according to insiders, are urging the President to take decisive action to avoid jeopardising vital international partnerships at a time when insecurity remains a major national challenge.
“The Americans have made their position very clear,” one source revealed. “They want changes before they deepen cooperation. They have concerns about the defence team, and Matawalle’s name keeps coming up.”
Nigeria has been seeking enhanced assistance from Washington to combat terrorism, banditry, and the growing threat of international criminal networks operating across the Sahel. The U.S. recently signalled readiness to expand support but emphasised the need for “institutional trust” within Nigeria’s defence architecture.
Political analysts say the unfolding development places the Tinubu administration in a delicate position. Any move to remove Matawalle, a former governor and influential political figure, could trigger political backlash, particularly within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where he maintains strong alliances.
But with pressure mounting both locally and internationally, insiders say a reshuffle is now “more likely than ever.”
As negotiations continue, the presidency has not publicly commented on the U.S. position or any potential ministerial shake-up. However, sources insist that the final decision will be driven by the urgency of securing key international security partnerships.
For now, the standoff has left Nigeria’s defence diplomacy at a critical crossroads one that may define the Tinubu administration’s approach to national security in the coming months.