Since late November 2025, the United States has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over Nigeria, a move that reflects an intensifying security partnership between the two nations.
According to officials familiar with the operations, American aircraft have been flying over Nigerian airspace as part of ongoing efforts to support Abuja in addressing terrorism, religious violence, and anti-Christian attacks.
While the flights are officially sensitive in nature, sources indicated they are part of broader intelligence-sharing and strategic coordination.
The missions are operated by Mississippi-based Tenax Aerospace and typically originate from Accra, Ghana, before traversing Nigeria and returning to the Ghanaian capital.
Experts said the operations appear to be based out of Accra, which serves as a key hub for US military logistics in Africa.
Liam Karr, Africa team lead at the Critical Threats Project of the American Enterprise Institute, noted that these flights were consistent with broader U.S. surveillance patterns across the continent.
The flights come amid heightened diplomatic attention, following statements by President Donald Trump suggesting possible U.S. military intervention over Nigeria’s handling of violence against Christian communities.
While the U.S. government has described meetings with Nigerian officials as “productive,” the Pentagon has declined to comment on intelligence matters.
The Nigerian government, however, has rejected claims that Christians were being systematically targeted, emphasising that armed groups attack both Muslims and Christians.
Officials describe the situation as a complex security challenge rather than a case of religious persecution.
