US finally agrees to proceed with the sale of 12 A-29 Tucano attack planes to Nigeria's military

WASHINGTON has finally agreed to sell Nigeria 12 A-29 Super Tucano attack planes in a deal worth $593m as part of its contribution towards assisting in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents operating in the northeast of the country.

Since the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, the US has committed itself to aiding Nigeria in the war against terror but concerns over the human rights record of Nigeria's armed forces has delayed the delivery of equipment. However, after years of foot-dragging, the US State Department has finally approved the sale of the attack planes with associated parts, training, facilities and weapons.

Already, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has delivered its certification of the foreign military sale to Congress, as required by law, on August 2. This military equipment sales approval came just as a Nigerian Defence College report submitted to acting president Professor Yemi Osinbajo admitted that Boko Haram had made much impact in its terrorist activities because it had superior firepower.

According to the report, the Nigerian military had been hampered in its operations against the terrorists because it lacked the technical equipment necessary to stand up to Boko Haram. It corroborated another report by the US Bureau of Counter-terrorism, revealing that the Nigerian military lacked the capacity to hold the grounds taken from Boko Haram due to tactical and strategic challenges.

Following the agreement, the 12 A-29s, equipped with wing-mounted machine guns, weapons integration with advanced surveillance and precision-guided bombs, will now be delivered to Nigeria. They come with even air-to-air missiles and will also help Nigeria to counter smuggling and other forms of trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea.

After a review, the DSCA determined that US security interests would be served by assisting Nigeria in its counter-insurgency operations and that the A-29 sale would not significantly alter the military balance of power in the region. However, the contract would require the US government or private contractors to provide training and support and would include instructions on rules of engagement and human rights to help prevent civilian casualties.

The Embraer A-29 Super Tucano is a turboprop light attack plane in service with countries across the world. It is designed for counter-insurgency operations and close-air support in areas lacking significant air defences.