The United States has supplied military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security cooperation between both countries and support Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
The United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, announced the delivery on its X handle on Thursday, sharing images of a US Air Force C-17 aircraft transporting the equipment.
According to AFRICOM, the equipment was provided under a foreign military sales agreement between the United States and Nigeria. The command said the delivery would further strengthen the partnership and assist Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts in the region.
The latest development comes amid continued military collaboration between the two countries, including training and capacity-building programmes.
On August 23, US military personnel began training Nigerian troops at Operating Location Bauchi in areas including unmanned aircraft systems, combat casualty care and other military skills.
The training covered combat lifesaver and tactical combat casualty care, weapons familiarisation, camouflage, water treatment and testing, explosive ordnance disposal, small-unit tactics and the use of unmanned aircraft systems.
AFRICOM said the programme was designed around the capabilities of US personnel and areas identified by their Nigerian counterparts as requiring additional support.
The use of unmanned aircraft systems reportedly attracted particular interest from Nigerian forces, with about 10 personnel from the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces Regiment receiving practical training on how to operate the systems.
US personnel also trained the Nigerian troops on how to deploy unmanned aircraft systems and integrate the intelligence gathered through them into military operations.
The latest equipment delivery follows AFRICOM’s disclosure in July that the United States had withdrawn most of its troops assigned to a specific counter-terrorism operation in Nigeria, while maintaining intelligence-sharing and broader security cooperation.
Despite the troop withdrawal, Nigeria and the United States have continued their military partnership through intelligence sharing, training and other capacity-building initiatives.
Source: PUNCH
