U.S. Approves $346m Arms Sale to Nigeria to Boost Counter-Terrorism Effort

The United States has approved the sale of munitions, bombs, and precision rockets worth $346 million to Nigeria, in a deal aimed at strengthening the country’s fight against insurgency and criminal networks.

In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said the agreement will support American foreign policy objectives by enhancing the security of a strategic partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The package includes more than 1,000 MK-82 500-pound bombs, 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS), laser-guided bomb kits, high-explosive rockets, and technical support services.

According to U.S. officials, the equipment will improve Nigeria’s ability to address both current and emerging threats, conduct operations against terrorist organisations, and counter illicit trafficking within its borders and in the Gulf of Guinea.

Nigeria has battled persistent violence in the north from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), groups responsible for thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions.

This week, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, announced that 592 terrorists had been killed in Borno State over the past eight months. He said the success was due to a more precise and rapid air campaign targeting high-value individuals, disrupting logistics, and dismantling insurgent cells.

“The operations are quicker, more targeted, and more surgical,” Abubakar noted during a briefing in Maiduguri.

Analysts say the newly approved U.S. weapons deal could significantly boost Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capacity at a time when the military is stepping up its offensives to reclaim territories and restore stability in conflict-hit regions.

The State Department described the sale as a move to ensure Nigeria can meet its security challenges while contributing to broader regional stability.