The United States has delivered military equipment to the Nigerian Air Force in Lagos and Kainji, Niger State, to strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism.

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) disclosed this in a statement published on its website on Thursday, noting that the equipment was delivered in September aboard a US Air Force C-17 aircraft.

According to AFRICOM, the delivery was made under a foreign military sales agreement between the United States and Nigerian militaries.

“The equipment delivery is part of a foreign military sales agreement between the U.S. and Nigerian militaries,” the command said.

AFRICOM said the delivery would further strengthen the strategic partnership between both countries and support Nigerian-led counterterrorism efforts across the region.

“U.S. military support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria is by its invitation and rooted in respect for Nigerian sovereignty,” it added.

The development comes weeks after AFRICOM commander, Dagvin Anderson, announced that the US had withdrawn a significant number of its troops from Nigeria following a May operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, in the Lake Chad Basin.

US and Nigerian officials had described the relatively small US deployment in Nigeria as highly effective, saying it produced significant operational results.

Although the larger contingent is expected to leave by late September, small teams of US trainers and intelligence analysts are expected to remain in the country.

The report also noted that American officials had described the Nigeria deployment as a potential model for future US counterterrorism operations in Africa.