Abuja, Aug 14 (AP) The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the US State Department has approved a possible $346 million weapons sale to Nigeria, aiming to enhance security in the sub-Saharan nation. The proposal now awaits Congressional approval, having already been communicated to Congress by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, a division within the Department of Defence responsible for providing technical assistance and managing the transfer of defence equipment.
The requested military equipment package for Nigeria includes munitions, bombs, and rockets. This acquisition comes amidst a resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria’s northeast region. The jihadist group, which emerged in 2009, has been notorious for its opposition to Western education and its efforts to impose a radical interpretation of Islamic law.
Recently, Islamic extremists have made repeated assaults on military outposts, placed explosive devices on roads, and conducted raids on civilian communities. These actions have sparked fears of a return to the high levels of insecurity experienced during the peak of Boko Haram's activity, despite government claims of military success against the insurgents.
The conflict, which has also affected Nigeria's northern neighbors, has resulted in about 35,000 civilian deaths and displaced over 2 million people within Nigeria’s northeastern region, according to United Nations statistics. Beyond the insurgency in the northeast, Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, also grapples with severe security challenges in the north-central and northwest regions, where recent months have seen significant casualties and injuries.
According to the Pentagon, “The proposed sale will improve Nigeria’s capability to address current and future threats through operations against terrorist organizations and to counter illicit trafficking within Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.” It further clarified, “There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
Over the past decade, Nigeria has repeatedly procured military equipment from the US, with the most recent approval being a $997-million weapons sale in 2022. (AP) SCY SCY
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