Amanze ChinonyeThe United States has approved a possible $346 million arms deal with Nigeria, a move expected to strengthen Abuja’s counter-terrorism operations and regional security engagements.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed that the State Department had cleared the request and sent the required certification to Congress. The sale will only take effect if lawmakers give their approval.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to DSCA, Nigeria has requested to buy 1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500lb bombs; 1,002 MXU-650 air foil groups for Paveway II GBU-12 kits; 515 MXU-1006 air foil groups for Paveway II GBU-58 kits; 1,517 MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control groups; 1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes; and 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets. The package also includes practice bombs, joint fuzes, integration equipment, technical support, and logistics assistance.
The DSCA said the proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy objectives by enhancing the security of “a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.” It added that the weapons will improve Nigeria’s capability to counter terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), while also addressing threats from armed bandit groups and illicit trafficking networks in the Gulf of Guinea.
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The agency stressed that the sale will not alter the basic military balance in West Africa and will not affect U.S. defense readiness. Principal contractors for the package are RTX Missiles and Defense in Arizona, Lockheed Martin in Pennsylvania, and BAE Systems in New Hampshire. No offset agreements are currently attached to the deal.
Security analysts have hailed the agreement as a landmark. Former Army spokesperson Brigadier General Sani Usman (Rtd) described it as a potential “turning point” in counter-insurgency operations, saying the precision-guided munitions would allow the military to strike with accuracy while reducing the risk of civilian casualties.
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has welcomed the development, noting that it comes at a time when security forces are recording major breakthroughs, including the capture of high-profile militant leaders. He said the new equipment would consolidate these gains and boost troop morale.
The proposed sale also reflects U.S’s recognition of Nigeria’s central role in regional stability. By strengthening Nigeria’s counter-terrorism and maritime security capacities, U.S. officials are signaling deeper engagement in West Africa, where insurgency, piracy, and transnational crime continue to threaten governance, trade, and cross-border safety.
For Nigeria, the package represents more than just advanced weaponry. It is seen as a chance to restore confidence in its armed forces, improve the precision of military campaigns, and reassure citizens in violence-hit regions that the state is equipped to reclaim territories scarred by years of insurgency.
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