As part of the efforts aimed at deepening its security partnership with Abuja and giving further impetus to Nigerian-led operations against terrorists threatening the country and the Lake Chad Basin, the United States has delivered another set of military equipment to the country.
According to the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), the equipment was delivered to the Nigerian Air Force facilities in Lagos and Kainji, Niger State, was flown in by a United States Air Force C-17 aircraft.
AFRICOM which announced these on Thursday, described the delivery as part of a foreign military sales agreement between the American and Nigerian militaries.
AFRICOM said the equipment would further strengthen the strategic partnership between the US and Nigeria as well as enhance Nigeria’s capacity to lead counterterrorism operations in the region.
The command said; “The equipment delivery is part of a foreign military sales agreement between the U.S. and Nigerian militaries and furthers the strategic partnership between the two nations in order to enhance Nigerian-led efforts to counter terrorism in the region”.
The American command also stated that its military cooperation with Nigeria was being conducted at the invitation of the Nigerian government and with respect for the country’s sovereignty, saying; “U.S. military support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria is by its invitation and rooted in respect for Nigerian sovereignty”.
The development followed the recent decision by Washington to scale down its troop presence in Nigeria after an operation in May that reportedly eliminated Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, who was known as the second-in-command of ISIS in the Lake Chad Basin.
AFRICOM Commander, Dagvin Anderson, had last month announced that the United States had withdrawn a substantial number of its troops from Nigeria following the operation, adding however, that the American military presence is not ending completely.
Accordingly, Small teams of US trainers and intelligence analysts are expected to remain in Nigeria after the larger contingent completes its withdrawal by late September, thereby underscoring Washington’s continued interest in supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign.
American and Nigerian officials have described the relatively small US deployment as having produced significant operational results, just as the latest equipment delivery signals that while Washington is reducing the number of troops physically deployed in Nigeria, it is maintaining key elements of its military and intelligence partnership with Abuja.
The American officials described the Nigerian deployment as a model that could shape future US military operations and security partnerships elsewhere in Africa.
