The US government has approved the sale of attack aircraft and other military equipment to Nigeria, which will be used to combat terrorists operating in the country.
According to a statement made by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Thursday, April 14, the equipment will cost Nigeria $997 million.
The decision comes after months of back-and-forth on the issue, with the US initially denying Nigeria’s request due to worries over human rights.
The military equipment is being acquired less than a year after the US government provided the country with 12 super tucano aircraft.
The Nigerian government has sought the purchase of 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, twenty-eight (28) T-700 GE 401C engines (24 installed, 4 spares), and two thousand (2,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guiding sections, according to a statement made on April 14, 2022.
Night Vision Cueing Display (NVCD), commercial variant GPS with Standard Positioning Service (SPS), and communication equipment are some of the other options.
Electronic warfare systems, the AN/AVS-9 Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging System, the M197 20mm machine gun, the Target Sight System (TSS), support equipment, spare engine containers, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, and technical data and publication are all included in the equipment.
The money to be paid by Nigeria also includes personnel training in the use of the technology, according to the statement.
The statement goes as follows: “This proposed sale will help the United States achieve its foreign policy and national security goals by enhancing the security of a vital partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Nigeria will be better equipped to contribute to shared security goals, support regional stability, and improve interoperability with the US and other Western partners as a result of the proposed sale.
“This transaction will make a significant contribution to the United States’ and Nigeria’s security aims. Nigeria’s military forces will have no trouble accepting the equipment and services.”
The US further indicated that the training of Nigerian officials for equipment maintenance will last five years and that about three contractor support personnel will be required to live in Nigeria for two years.