The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified diplomatic engagement with the United States, urging a faster delivery of the long-awaited combat helicopters pledged to support Nigeria’s sustained fight against terrorism, insurgency, and armed banditry. This plea, made through the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), comes amid escalating security threats in various parts of the country, especially in the North-East and North-West regions, where criminal elements continue to wreak havoc on vulnerable communities.
Top officials of the Nigerian Air Force made the appeal during a recent high-level security dialogue with U.S. defence counterparts, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced aerial firepower to suppress the growing activities of insurgent groups and heavily armed bandits. According to sources close to the dialogue, Nigeria specifically called for the expedited delivery of the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and associated support systems under an arms agreement reached in 2022, valued at over $997 million.
The Air Force leadership, while expressing appreciation for the United States’ strategic partnership and ongoing military cooperation, noted that the delayed delivery of the helicopters has hindered planned operations aimed at regaining control of remote territories currently overrun by non-state actors. These areas, particularly in Borno, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina states, have seen increased incidents of ambushes, kidnappings, and targeted assaults on both military personnel and civilians.
NAF officials reiterated that the country’s current aerial assets, though effective to some extent, are overstretched due to the scale of operations required across multiple theatres of conflict. They stressed that the swift deployment of the U.S.-promised helicopters would provide a significant boost to Nigeria’s counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts, allowing the Air Force to conduct precision strikes, rapid response missions, and close air support with greater efficiency.
It will be recalled that in April 2022, the U.S. State Department approved the foreign military sale of 12 AH-1Z helicopters to Nigeria, along with training and maintenance packages. The deal was seen as a major milestone in U.S.-Nigeria military cooperation, following earlier delays over human rights concerns. However, nearly three years later, only limited progress has been made toward the arrival of the aircraft.
As insecurity continues to evolve, with terror groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and various armed militia maintaining a firm presence in hard-to-reach areas, Nigeria insists that the helicopters are not just a strategic necessity, but a critical component of the nation’s broader security stabilization framework.
Officials have also assured that Nigeria remains committed to international standards of military engagement and will continue to improve transparency, especially in operational conduct, to foster confidence with global partners.
With thousands of lives already lost and millions displaced due to insurgency in the North-East, alongside increasing attacks on rural communities in the North-West, the call for timely support from allies like the United States has become even more urgent. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, continues to highlight the implications of its internal security for the broader West African sub-region and calls for global collaboration in restoring peace and stability.
