The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force under a foreign military sales agreement aimed at strengthening the West African nation’s capacity to combat terrorism and other security threats.
The equipment was transported by a US Air Force C-17 aircraft over the weekend, according to information released by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
“Partnership in action: A U.S. Air Force C-17 delivers equipment to the Nigerian Air Force this weekend,” AFRICOM said in a post on X on Thursday.
The command said the equipment was supplied under a foreign military sales agreement between Washington and Abuja and would support Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts while further strengthening bilateral security cooperation.
The delivery comes as Nigeria continues to confront security threats from Islamist militant groups, bandits and other armed groups, particularly in the country’s northeast.
Nigeria has increasingly sought to strengthen its air capabilities as part of broader military modernisation efforts. The government has previously linked new aircraft and other military platforms to operations against terrorism, banditry and other security challenges.
The latest US delivery also comes amid changes in the scale of American military involvement in Nigeria.
According to Sahara Reporters, Washington was preparing to withdraw about 200 US troops deployed to Nigeria, while American personnel have supported Nigerian forces through intelligence sharing, training and other counterterrorism activities.
US-Nigerian cooperation has included joint counterterrorism operations. Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said in May that Nigerian and US forces had conducted coordinated operations against Islamic State militants in northeastern Nigeria, including an operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by the authorities as a senior Islamic State commander.
The equipment delivery comes as Nigeria also seeks to reduce its dependence on foreign defence suppliers.
In June, Nigerian Defence Minister Christopher Musa warned that major international conflicts were affecting Nigeria’s ability to procure military equipment, highlighting the need to strengthen the country’s domestic defence manufacturing capacity.
Abuja has subsequently continued efforts to expand local defence production. In August, Defence Headquarters said Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede had visited the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Ordnance Factory in Kaduna as part of efforts to increase domestic production and improve military self-reliance.
The latest US delivery underscores that, despite questions over the future scale of the US military presence in Nigeria, defence cooperation between Washington and Abuja remains active as Nigeria seeks additional capabilities for its counterterrorism operations.
