The United States has formally pledged to expedite and complete the delivery of outstanding military equipment purchased by Nigeria over the past five years, including advanced drones, helicopters, armoured vehicles, and other defence systems.
The commitment was made during high-level talks between U.S. and Nigerian defence officials in Washington on Thursday, January 23, 2026, according to a joint statement released by the U.S. Department of State and Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence.
The package includes: MQ-9 Reaper drones and related surveillance systems (part of deals signed in 2021–2023), AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters (delayed deliveries from Foreign Military Sales agreements) and Additional armoured personnel carriers, night-vision equipment, and counter-IED systems.
U.S. officials attributed previous delays to export control reviews, congressional notifications, and supply-chain issues, but stated that “all outstanding items are now cleared for shipment,” with the first major batch expected to arrive in Nigeria within the next 90–120 days.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, welcomed the pledge, describing it as “a renewed demonstration of trust and partnership” in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other security threats.
“This timely delivery will significantly enhance our operational capabilities, particularly in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and rapid troop mobility,” the minister said.
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The announcement comes amid strengthened Nigeria–U.S. military cooperation, including recent calls by the Chief of Defence Staff for deeper strategic ties, joint exercises, and intelligence sharing to combat evolving threats in the Lake Chad Basin and North-West regions.
The U.S. has been Nigeria’s largest defence partner in recent years, with over $2 billion in Foreign Military Sales and Foreign Military Financing since 2015.
This is a developing story.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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