The United States has approved a $346 million arms deal with Nigeria, supplying advanced munitions, bombs, and precision-guided rockets to bolster the West African nation’s fight against escalating terrorist violence. Announced by the U.S. State Department on Wednesday, the sale is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s military capabilities against insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which have intensified attacks in the country’s north.
Under the deal, Nigeria will receive over 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. The State Department said the package will “improve Nigeria’s ability to meet current and future threats” and support counter-terrorism operations as well as anti-trafficking patrols in the Gulf of Guinea. The MK-82 bombs, part of the U.S. inventory for decades, have recently been used in global conflict zones, drawing scrutiny from human rights groups. However, U.S. officials argue the weapons, when paired with precision-guidance systems, can reduce collateral damage in targeted strikes.
Nigeria’s military has reported significant progress in its northern campaign, with Air Chief Marshal Hasan Abubakar announcing on Tuesday that 592 militants were eliminated in Borno State over the past eight months. “This year, our air campaign is quicker, more precise, and more surgical,” he said, noting that the military is dismantling high-value targets, logistics hubs, and insurgent cells. The insurgency in northern Nigeria has displaced millions and left thousands dead over the past decade. Analysts say the U.S. arms package could be a major boost to Abuja’s ongoing offensive, though its effectiveness will depend on operational discipline and intelligence-led targeting.
