The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as Washington and Abuja continue to strengthen security cooperation against terrorism and other threats in the region.
The equipment was transported by a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and delivered at locations in Lagos and Kainji.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which highlighted the delivery on Thursday in a statement, said the equipment was provided under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement between the United States and Nigeria.
“PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION: A U.S. Air Force C-17 delivers equipment to the Nigerian Air Force this weekend. 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 stated.
Images released through the US Department of Defense’s visual information platform, DVIDS, show the C-17 and personnel involved in the offloading operation in Lagos and Kainji.
However, AFRICOM has not disclosed the type, quantity or value of the equipment delivered.
The command also stressed that the support is provided at Nigeria’s invitation and is intended to strengthen Nigerian-led counterterrorism operations while respecting the country’s sovereignty.
Deepening Ties
The latest delivery comes less than a month after Nigerian and US officials met in Washington to review their security partnership.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu led a Nigerian delegation to the second session of the Nigeria-US Joint Working Group on August 13.
The meeting, which followed an earlier session in Abuja in January, focused on counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, protection of vulnerable communities, terrorism financing, border security, internally displaced persons and military-to-military cooperation.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting was also used to review the countries’ defence roadmap and chart the next phase of security collaboration.
The equipment delivery also comes against the backdrop of a significant expansion in US-Nigeria counterterrorism cooperation this year.
In May, US Africa Command, in coordination with the Nigerian government, conducted an operation against ISIS in northeastern Nigeria that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by AFRICOM as the group’s director of global operations, alongside other senior ISIS leaders.
AFRICOM subsequently conducted additional strikes against ISIS targets in northeastern Nigeria in coordination with Abuja.
From Tension To Closer Cooperation
The growing military cooperation marks a notable shift in the Nigeria-US relationship after tensions over security and religious freedom late last year.
US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ on October 31, 2025, under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Despite disagreements over how Nigeria’s insecurity should be characterised, both countries have since maintained closer engagement on counterterrorism and security.
The current approach increasingly emphasises Nigerian-led operations supported by US intelligence, training, specialised capabilities and military equipment rather than a large permanent American combat presence.
