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The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force under a Foreign Military Sales agreement, in what Washington says is a fresh step towards strengthening the two countries’ security partnership and Nigeria’s campaign against terrorism.
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The equipment was flown in over the weekend by a US Air Force C-17 military transport aircraft, according to the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), which announced the delivery on its official website.
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The development came about one month after National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, led a Nigerian delegation to the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting in Washington, DC, where the two countries deepened discussions on strategic and security cooperation.
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AFRICOM said the military equipment would aid Nigeria’s efforts to counter terrorism in the region, coming as the Nigerian military continues to battle insurgents and other armed groups across the country, particularly in the North.
September 10, (THEWILL) – The United States has stepped up military support for Nigeria with the delivery of military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force under a Foreign Military Sales agreement aimed at strengthening the bilateral security partnership and supporting the country’s fight against terrorism.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) disclosed the development on its official website, saying a US Air Force C-17 military transport aircraft delivered the equipment to the Nigerian Air Force over the weekend.
“PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION: A U.S. Air Force C-17 delivers equipment to the Nigerian Air Force this weekend”, AFRICOM said in a post announcing the delivery.
The command said the consignment was supplied under a Foreign Military Sales agreement between the United States and Nigeria.
“The equipment is part of a foreign military sales agreement that furthers the U.S.-Nigerian partnership and will aid in Nigeria’s efforts to counter terrorism in the region”, AFRICOM said.
The delivery, made on Sunday, September 6, comes approximately one month after the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, led a Nigerian delegation to the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting in Washington, DC.
Although AFRICOM did not disclose the nature or quantity of the equipment delivered, the command’s statement makes clear that the consignment forms part of an existing defence arrangement between the two countries and is intended to support Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
The equipment was transported by a US Air Force C-17, a strategic military transport aircraft designed to move personnel, vehicles, equipment and other military cargo over long distances.
Nigeria remains a key US security partner on the continent, particularly in the fight against terrorism, given the country’s role in confronting extremist organisations and other armed groups whose activities have continued to threaten communities and regional stability.
The Nigerian military has for years been engaged in operations against terrorist groups in the North-East, while security forces have also been confronting banditry, kidnapping and other armed criminal activities in parts of the North-West and North-Central.
The Nigerian Air Force has played a critical role in those operations through aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, close air support and air strikes against identified terrorist targets.
The latest US delivery is therefore expected to strengthen the military’s operational capacity, although AFRICOM did not provide details on the specific role or deployment of the equipment.
The development also follows the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting in Washington DC, led by Ribadu on the Nigerian side, where both countries continued discussions on matters of strategic importance to their bilateral relationship.
The meeting formed part of broader efforts to deepen cooperation between Abuja and Washington, particularly on security and other areas of mutual interest.
The United States has remained one of Nigeria’s important defence and security partners, with cooperation extending beyond equipment to areas such as counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, training and institutional capacity-building.
The Foreign Military Sales programme provides a framework through which the US government facilitates the transfer of defence articles and services to eligible partner countries.
The Federal Government has repeatedly maintained that defeating terrorism requires stronger military capabilities as well as intelligence cooperation and international partnerships.
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