ABUJA — The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force in Lagos and Kainji, Niger State, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations.
The delivery was made in September through a United States Air Force C-17 aircraft, according to the US Africa Command (AFRICOM).
AFRICOM, in a statement published on its website on Thursday, said the equipment was supplied under a foreign military sales agreement between the United States and Nigerian militaries.
The command said the latest delivery would further strengthen the strategic partnership between both countries and support Nigerian-led efforts to combat terrorism in the region.
“The delivery furthers the strategic partnership between the two nations in order to enhance Nigerian-led efforts to counter terrorism in the region. U.S. military support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria is by its invitation and rooted in respect for Nigerian sovereignty,” AFRICOM said.
The development comes weeks after AFRICOM Commander, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, announced plans to reduce the number of US troops deployed to Nigeria.
The planned reduction followed a May operation in which Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified by US officials as the second-in-command of ISIS, was killed in the Lake Chad Basin.
US and Nigerian officials have described the relatively small American deployment in Nigeria as having delivered significant counterterrorism results.
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Despite the planned drawdown, small teams of US military trainers and intelligence analysts are expected to remain in Nigeria after the larger contingent is withdrawn by late September.
American officials have also reportedly described the Nigerian deployment as a potential model for future US counterterrorism operations across Africa.
The latest military equipment delivery therefore signals continued US support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, even as Washington adjusts the size and structure of its military presence in the country.
