The United States has taken a significant step to bolster Nigeria’s defense capabilities, with the U.S. State Department approving a potential $346 million sale of munitions, precision bombs, and rockets to the West African nation, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday, August 14, 2025.
The proposed deal, which awaits Congressional approval, aims to enhance Nigeria’s ability to combat terrorism and address security challenges in the region.
According to a statement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), cited by Reuters, Nigeria has requested an array of advanced weaponry, including 1,002 MK-82 general-purpose 500-pound bombs, 1,002 MXU-650 Air Foil Groups for 500-pound Paveway II GBU-12 bombs, 515 MXU-1006 Air Foil Groups for 250-pound Paveway II GBU-58 bombs, and 5,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) all-up-rounds.
The package also includes 1,517 computer control groups, 1,002 FMU-152 joint programmable fuzes, and additional non-major defense equipment such as bomb components, impulse cartridges, and high-explosive practice rockets.
The DSCA emphasized that the sale aligns with U.S. foreign policy goals by strengthening the security of a key partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This 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,” the agency stated.
The equipment is expected to be integrated seamlessly into Nigeria’s armed forces, particularly for use with the Nigerian Air Force’s A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, without disrupting the regional military balance.
The principal contractors for the deal include industry giants Lockheed Martin, RTX Missiles and Defense, and BAE Systems.
The DSCA noted that the implementation of the sale will not require additional U.S. government or contractor personnel in Nigeria, and it will have no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness.
Nigeria has faced persistent security challenges, particularly in its northeastern region, where Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have waged a violent insurgency since 2009.
The conflict has resulted in approximately 35,000 civilian deaths and displaced over 2 million people, according to United Nations estimates.
Recent months have seen a resurgence of attacks, with extremists overrunning military outposts and targeting civilian communities, heightening fears of renewed instability.
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