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US approves $997m military arms sale to Nigeria

US approves $997m military arms sale to Nigeria

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The U.S. government has announced that it has approved the sale of attack aircraft and other military equipment to Nigeria to use in fighting terrorists operating in the country.

 

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According to a statement released Thursday, April 14, by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the equipments are to cost Nigeria about $997 million.

The approval comes after months of back and forth on the matter, with the US initially reported to have denied Nigeria’s request over human rights concerns.

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The acquisition of the military equipment comes less than a year after the U.S. government supplied the country with 12 units of super tucano aircrafts.

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According to the statement released on April 14, 2022, the equipment requested to be purchased by the Nigerian government include 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) guidance sections.

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Others are Night Vision Cueing Display (NVCD); commercial variant GPS with Standard Positioning Service (SPS), and communication equipment.

 

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The equipment also include electronic warfare systems; AN/AVS-9 Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging System; M197 20mm machine gun; Target Sight System (TSS); support equipment; spare engine containers; spare and repair parts; tools and test equipment; technical data and publication.

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The statement said the sum to be paid by Nigeria also covers the training of personnel in handling the equipment.

The statement reads: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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“The proposed sale will better equip Nigeria to contribute to shared security objectives, promote regional stability and build interoperability with the U.S. and other Western partners.

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“This sale will be a major contribution to U.S. and Nigerian security goals. Nigeria will have no difficulty absorbing the equipment and services into its armed force.”

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The U.S. also stated that the training of Nigerian officials for the maintenance of the equipment will be for a period of five years and will require approximately three contractor support representatives to reside in Nigeria for a period of two years.

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