Wayne Lumbasi
The United States has stepped up military support for Nigeria by delivering new supplies aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against insurgency and violent crime, reinforcing a long-standing security partnership between Africa’s most populous nation and its most important defence ally.
The delivery, confirmed by U.S. Africa Command, forms part of ongoing cooperation designed to improve Nigeria’s operational capacity as it confronts multiple security threats across the country. Armed groups linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province remain active in the northeast, while banditry, kidnappings and attacks on communities have spread across the northwest and central regions. These challenges have stretched Nigeria’s armed forces and heightened the need for external logistical and technical support .
The assistance builds on years of U.S. engagement with Nigeria that has included training, intelligence sharing and the provision of aircraft, surveillance tools and other defence equipment. The partnership has increasingly focused on improving mobility, coordination and battlefield effectiveness as Nigerian forces pursue insurgent groups operating in difficult terrain .
Security cooperation between the two countries has deepened in recent years as instability in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin has grown. For the United States, Nigeria is seen as a pivotal regional partner whose stability has implications far beyond its borders. For Nigeria, foreign support remains critical as it seeks to regain control of affected areas, protect civilians and rebuild confidence in state authority after more than a decade of conflict.
The latest delivery comes amid broader diplomatic engagement between the two countries, even as discussions continue over governance, civilian protection and accountability in military operations. Despite these sensitive issues, both sides have emphasised that counter-terrorism and regional stability remain shared priorities.
As Nigeria presses ahead with military campaigns against insurgents and criminal networks, the new supplies are expected to provide a practical boost to frontline operations. They also signal continued international backing for Abuja’s efforts to restore security and reduce the threat posed by extremist violence in West Africa .
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