After legislators put a stop to the transaction amid worries about probable human rights abuses by the Nigerian government, the US has approved a roughly $1 billion weapons sale to Nigeria.
The sale of 12 Bell AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters was put on hold by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee in July.
The State Department said on Thursday that the sale of the $997 million attack helicopters will be approved.
“By boosting the security of a vital partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, this proposed sale will serve the United States’ foreign policy aims and national security objectives,” according to a statement regarding the sale.
Nigeria has been dealing with an increase in armed robberies and kidnappings for ransom, with thinly deployed security personnel struggling to curb armed gangs’ power.
After troops opened fire on demonstrators demonstrating against police brutality in Lagos in October 2020, US authorities complained of “excessive force” by Nigerian military forces on unarmed citizens and called for moderation.
