The United States (U.S) government has announced the supply of military items to Nigeria as the fight against terrorism Intensifies.
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced the handover in Abuja on January 13, 2026, highlighting the strengthened bilateral partnership amid Nigeria’s persistent battle with terrorism, banditry, and violent extremism.
“U.S. forces delivered critical military supplies to our Nigerian partners in Abuja. This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership,” AFRICOM said, tagging the United States Mission in Nigeria, @USinNigeria.
The supply of these military items to Nigeria comes shortly after heightened U.S.-Nigeria collaboration, including joint airstrikes on Christmas Day 2025 that targeted ISIS-linked militants in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria.
Those precision operations, conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities, marked a major escalation in direct support following President Bola Tinubu’s earlier appeals for enhanced assistance.
In November 2025, the Bola Tinubu-led presidency had appealed to the United States to deploy its military to help Nigeria fight terrorism in some states of the federation.
The spokesperson to the President, Bayo Onanuga, made this appeal while commenting on the decision of the United States to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
The Federal Government confirmed ongoing security and intelligence cooperation with the United States following the operation, which targeted terrorist positions in the country’s North West.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Nigerian authorities remain engaged in “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America,” to address terrorism and violent extremism.
The collaboration involves intelligence sharing, strategic coordination, and other forms of support in line with international law, respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty, and shared security commitments.
On November 27, 2025, Tinubu approved the composition of the team for the U.S.-Nigeria security working group to tackle the nation’s pressing security challenges.
The establishment of this U.S.-Nigeria working group is a result of high-level talks held recently in Washington, D.C., where a Nigerian delegation, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, met with key U.S government officials.
Shortly after the meeting, the Nigerian Presidency announced the group, explaining that the primary goal of the group is to create a unified and coordinated approach for implementing various agreements across defense, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism efforts.
According to a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, Ribadu will lead the Nigerian team of the security working group.
Members of the working group, as contained in a statement include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard M. Doro, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.
