Former President Olusegun Obasanjo shared that during his tenure as Nigeria’s Head of State, the U.S. government under the late President Jimmy Carter consistently kept Nigeria informed before making significant decisions regarding Africa.

He made these comments on Monday in Abeokuta at the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat, hosted by the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

His reflections come in the wake of reactions to President Donald Trump’s recent warning that the U.S. might send troops to Nigeria if the Federal Government fails to curb k+lling linked to jihadist groups. The Nigerian government has since dismissed Trump’s remarks, asserting that insecurity affects all communities and is being actively addressed.

Although Obasanjo didn’t directly address the controversy, he reminisced about a time when Nigeria held a prominent leadership role on the continent and enjoyed considerable global respect. He noted that Carter would consistently notify Nigeria ahead of any U.S. action in Africa, saying, “They were not seeking permission, but they would inform us.”

He also recalled how his administration, alongside that of the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed, helped restore Nigeria’s international stature after a period of diminished confidence post-independence. “At independence, the world saw Nigeria as a giant. Soon after, we lost that. When Muritala and I came in, we brought it back,” he said.