The US State Department has finally approved the sale of A-29 Super Tucano Attack planes with associated parts and training facilities worth $593 million to Nigeria, years after refusing to do so due to alleged human rights violations. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on Wednesday delivered their certification of the foreign military sale to the US Congress as required by law.
The report hinted that the decision to sell the military hardware to Nigeria was because the USCA reasoned that US security interest is served by assisting Nigeria to effectively combat insurgency. The Agency further held that the A-29 sale will not significantly alter military balance in the region.
The twelve Super Tucano planes when delivered will assist the Nigerian Military in the fight against Boko Haram, Piracy and militancy particularly in the North East and the Niger Delta region. The contract will now require the US Government or authorized private security contractors to provide training and support to the Nigerian Military on the use of the new equipment in order to prevent civilian casualties.
Efforts by the previous administration to procure attack planes and other military hardware from the United States and South Africa among others were blocked by the US following allegations that the military was violating human rights as well as engaging in alleged extra-judicial killings. The Military have since denied the allegations.
The A-29 Super Tucano is a turboprop light attack plane armed with wing-mounted machine guns, weapon integration with advanced surveillance and targeting pods, precision-guided bombs and air-to-air missiles.
