The United States has delivered military equipment purchased by Nigeria as Washington and Abuja expand their security partnership against terrorist groups operating in the region.
The equipment was transported over the weekend aboard a US Air Force C-17 aircraft, according to a Thursday post by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM). The command did not disclose the type or value of the equipment delivered.
AFRICOM said the shipment was covered by a foreign military sales agreement between the two countries. It said the delivery would support Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism and strengthen the wider US-Nigeria security partnership.
It remains unclear whether the latest shipment forms part of the $346 million Foreign Military Sale approved by the US State Department in August 2025. That package includes munitions, precision-guided bombs, precision rockets and other military equipment intended to support Nigeria’s counterterrorism and security operations.
The US has approved several major arms deals with Nigeria in recent years. These include the sale of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for about $593 million and 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters estimated at $997 million. While some equipment from previous agreements has arrived, reports indicate that other deliveries remain outstanding.
The latest delivery comes amid a broader expansion of security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States. The partnership has included intelligence sharing, military training and joint counterterrorism operations, particularly as both countries seek to disrupt terrorist activity in Nigeria’s North-east.
Security ties between Washington and Abuja have received increased attention following diplomatic tensions over US President Donald Trump’s claims that Christians were being disproportionately targeted by terrorist groups in Nigeria. Nigerian authorities rejected that characterisation, maintaining that terrorist and armed groups attack Nigerians across religious and ethnic lines.
The two governments have since strengthened operational cooperation, including the deployment of about 200 US military personnel to Nigeria to provide training, intelligence and operational support. The move followed coordinated US-Nigeria strikes against Islamic State targets in the country’s North-east.
