TERRORIST groups in Nigeria are set to face tougher days ahead as the United States Government has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Nigeria valued at an estimated $346 million.
News Point Nigeria reports that the U.S. State Department, through the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), confirmed on Wednesday that it has delivered the required certification to Congress, paving the way for the supply of munitions, precision-guided bombs, rockets, and related support equipment to the Nigerian Armed Forces.
According to the DSCA, the Nigerian Government has requested a wide range of advanced weaponry and support gear, including:
1,002 MK-82 general purpose 500 lb bombs
1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups for Paveway II GBU-12
515 MXU-1006 Air Foil Groups for Paveway II GBU-58
1,517 MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control groups
1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes
5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rounds, each with a guidance section, high-explosive warhead, and MK66-4 rocket motor
The package also includes non-major defense equipment such as FMU-139 fuzes, bomb components, high-explosive and practice rockets, integration and test equipment, as well as technical, engineering, and logistics support from U.S. Government and contractors.
The State Department said the deal would “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.”
It added that the arms sale will boost Nigeria’s capacity to tackle terrorism, insurgency, and illicit trafficking, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea region.
The DSCA stressed that the transaction will not alter the basic military balance in West Africa.
The principal contractors are RTX Missiles and Defense (Tucson, Arizona), Lockheed Martin Corporation (Archibald, Pennsylvania), and BAE Systems (Hudson, New Hampshire).
The DSCA noted that no U.S. personnel would be deployed to Nigeria to oversee the sale, and the deal would not impact U.S. military readiness.
The $346 million figure is an initial estimate, with the final cost expected to be lower depending on Nigeria’s specific requirements, budget allocations, and final contract negotiations.
This development comes at a time when Nigeria continues to intensify its counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other armed groups threatening national security.