By Our Correspondent
The United States has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Nigeria involving munitions, precision-guided bombs, rockets, and related equipment worth an estimated $346 million.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), in a statement dated August 13 and received on Thursday, said it had notified the US Congress of the deal.
“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Nigeria of Munitions, Precision Bombs, and Precision Rockets and related equipment for an estimated cost of $346 million,” the statement read in part.
Under the request, Nigeria plans to buy 1,002 MK-82 general purpose bombs, 1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups for Paveway II GBU-12, 515 MXU-1006 Air Foil Groups for GBU-58, 1,517 computer control groups, 1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes, and 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II all-up-rounds. The package also includes bomb components, fuzes, impulse cartridges, rockets, integration support, and logistical services.
The DSCA said the sale would strengthen Nigeria’s ability to tackle security threats, including terrorism and illicit trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea.
“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. The proposed sale will improve Nigeria’s capability to meet current and future threats… Nigeria will have no difficulty absorbing these munitions into its armed forces.”
The principal contractors are RTX Missiles and Defence, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and BAE Systems. The DSCA stressed that the deal would not alter the military balance in the region or affect US defence readiness.
This arms package comes as Nigeria continues to battle Boko Haram insurgency, armed banditry, piracy, and cross-border trafficking.
