US delivers fresh military supplies to Nigeria, boosts counterterrorism partnership

The United States has delivered a new batch of military supplies to Nigeria, underscoring sustained bilateral defence cooperation as the country intensifies counterterrorism and internal security operations.

The delivery was confirmed on Tuesday by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

According to AFRICOM, the supplies were officially handed over to Nigerian security partners in Abuja, reinforcing what it described as a shared commitment to addressing common security challenges.

“U.S. forces delivered critical military supplies to our Nigerian partners in Abuja. This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasizes our shared security partnership,” AFRICOM stated.

While AFRICOM did not disclose details regarding the specific type or quantity of equipment supplied, the materials are believed to be intended to support Nigeria’s ongoing military campaigns against terrorist organisations and criminal networks operating across several regions of the country.

The latest delivery comes amid heightened security concerns in Nigeria, where the military is confronting multiple and overlapping threats, including the Boko Haram insurgency, activities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), armed banditry, and widespread kidnapping, particularly in the North-East and North-West.

US security engagement with Nigeria has drawn increased attention in recent months. In October 2025, President Donald Trump accused the Nigerian government of permitting what he described as the “mass slaughter” of Christians, a claim Nigerian authorities strongly rejected as false and misleading.

The renewed military support also follows President Trump’s reported December authorization of what was described as a “powerful and deadly strike” against an ISIS-linked base in North-West Nigeria. That operation was said to be aimed at degrading Islamic State-affiliated groups operating in the region.

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Reports have previously indicated that the US military had developed contingency plans for potential military action in Nigeria, reportedly following directives from President Trump amid growing concerns about the expansion of terrorist networks across West Africa.

For the United States, bolstering Nigeria’s security capacity aligns with broader strategic efforts to prevent West Africa from becoming a stronger foothold for global terrorist organisations, which could pose wider regional and international threats.

Nigeria and the United States have maintained long-standing defence and security ties, including military training programmes, intelligence sharing, and logistical support.

Nigerian authorities have consistently stressed that foreign assistance is meant to strengthen local capacity rather than replace domestic security efforts.

US officials, on their part, have repeatedly stated that their engagement with Nigeria is based on mutual respect, with the objective of enabling Nigeria to independently address its security challenges while contributing to peace and stability across the wider West African region.