Nigeria’s quest to defeat terrorist organizations and to counter illicit trafficking in the country and the Gulf of Guinea got a boost Wednesday as the U.S. State Department approved an estimated cost of $346 million potential sales of munitions, precision bombs and precision rockets to its Armed Forces, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday.
The contractors for the sales are Lockheed Martin LMT.N , RTX Missiles and Defense RTX.N and BAE Systems BAES.L, the statement said.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the possible sale, said in a statement that under the contract, the U.S. Government and contractor will offer “technical, engineering, and logistics personnel services; and other related elements of logistical and program support” to Nigeria.
The full statement reads: “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 Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
“The Government of Nigeria has requested to buy one thousand two (1,002) MK-82 general purpose 500 lb bombs; one thousand two (1,002) MXU-650 Air Foil Groups (AFGs) for 500 lb Paveway II GBU-12; five hundred fifteen (515) MXU-1006 AFGs for 250 lb Paveway II GBU-58; one thousand five hundred seventeen (1,517) MAU-169 or MAU-209 computer control group (CCG) for Paveway II GBU-12/GBU-58; one thousand two (1,002) FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes; and five thousand (5,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) all-up-rounds (AURs) (consisting of one each WGU-59/B guidance section (GS); high-explosive warhead; and MK66-4 rocket motor).
“The following non-MDE items will also be included: FMU-139 joint programmable fuzes; bomb components, impulse cartridges, and high-explosive and practice rockets; integration support and test equipment; U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics personnel services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated program cost is $346 million.
“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 through operations against terrorist organizations and to counter illicit trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria will have no difficulty absorbing these munitions into its armed forces.
“The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
“The principal contractors will be RTX Missiles and Defense, Tucson, AZ; Lockheed Martin Corporation, Archibald, PA; and BAE Systems, Hudson, NH. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
“Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Nigeria.
“There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
“The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.”
The approval came after U.S. lawmakers had put a hold on sale of weapons to Nigeria over concerns about possible human rights abuses by the Federal Government.
The U.S. had in 2022 approved nearly $1 billion weapons sale to Nigeria by the Joe Biden administration after initial pause by President Donald Trump in his first term in office.
This was as a result of concerns over the series of accidental bombings by the military air and land forces in their bid to clear terrorists from their enclaves, which also affected some civilians.
