The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to combat terrorism and other security threats in the northern part of the country.
The equipment was delivered on Sunday, September 6, by a United States Air Force C-17 transport aircraft under a Foreign Military Sales agreement between both countries.
The latest delivery comes about a month after National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, led a Nigerian delegation to the US-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting in Washington, DC, where security cooperation and other areas of bilateral partnership were discussed.
The military equipment is expected to enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force and support ongoing counter-terrorism operations against insurgent and extremist groups operating in parts of northern Nigeria.
The Foreign Military Sales programme is a US government-to-government mechanism through which American defence equipment, training and related services are provided to partner countries.
The delivery underscores the growing security cooperation between Washington and Abuja, particularly as Nigeria continues to confront terrorism, banditry and other forms of insecurity.
The United States has in recent years supported Nigeria through military training, intelligence cooperation, equipment and other security assistance aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to tackle terrorist organisations and protect its territory.
The latest equipment is therefore expected to further deepen the strategic defence partnership between both countries and provide additional support to Nigerian security forces engaged in operations against terrorism.