The United States has approved a potential $346 million arms sale to Nigeria, aimed at bolstering the country’s defence and counter-terrorism operations.
In a statement released on Wednesday and quoted by Reuters, the U.S. Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed that the State Department had authorised the sale of munitions, precision bombs, and precision rockets to the Nigerian government. The deal will be executed through major U.S. defence contractors, including Lockheed Martin, RTX Missiles and Defense, and BAE Systems.
According to DSCA, the proposed package includes 1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500 lb bombs, Paveway II laser-guided bomb components, programmable fuzes, and 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rounds, among other high-grade military equipment. The non-major defence equipment (non-MDE) segment covers bomb components, impulse cartridges, high-explosive and practice rockets, test equipment, as well as technical, engineering, and logistics support services.
DSCA emphasised that the sale aligns with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the operational readiness of Nigeria—a key strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. It also noted that no offset agreement is associated with the deal, and the transaction will not affect U.S. defence readiness.
“The proposed sale will improve the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa,” the agency stated.
