Boko Haram: U.S. May Approve Sale Of Cobra Jets To Nigeria

The  United States of America, on  Saturday, hinted that the White House might be planning to offer Nigeria a more significant military assistance to fight the Boko Haram terrorist group after the Presidential elections. 

For instance, the Chairman of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Ed Royce, and members of his committee are said to have invited the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Prof Ade Adefuye to a meeting tomorrow (Monday February 2).

In the same vein, the African Union, yesterday, agreed to send 7,500 troops to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria.

The head of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, Samil Chergui, who made disclosure said the move came after the council urged heads of state to endorse the deployment of troops from five West African countries to fight the terror group.

It is, however, uncertain, whether, or not, the outcome of the election would influence US’ plan to reconsider its earlier decision not to sale cobra jets to Nigeria. The planned military assistance, it was gathered, points to the possibility of approving sale of Cobra jets to Nigeria, an assistance that was previously denied it.

The Guardian can reveal that US Secretary of State, John Kerry, hinted this in his meetings last week in Lagos with Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger, General Mohammadu Buhari.

In fact, the US government has decided that while it will continue with the level and range of help and assistance it is currently rendering to Nigeria, more significant support, including a review of US decision not to approve the supply of Cobra jets to the Nigerian military, will follow after the presidential polls.

In the same vein, the US may change its attitude on the level of American military training for Nigeria, essentially finding a way to work around the Leahy amendments, which constrains the use of US military training for countries with tainted militaries on the issue of human rights violations.

It was disclosed that such reviews, both for military training and supply of the military fighter jets/weapons, would be facilitated not only with a new and different administration taking charge in Nigeria, but essentially the change in US policy can also come with a peaceful, free and fair election, no matter who wins the election.

But what is clear, according to informed US sources, is that the US is essentially waiting on a peaceful outcome of the presidential polls next week. In fact, the White House has scheduled a major counter-terrorism conference, called “Summit on Countering Violent Extremism,” for Feb 18; and foreign leaders, including those from Nigeria, would be invited.

Already, members of the US Congress from both the Democratic and Republican parties are raising questions on the restraint of the White House to offer Nigeria a full-fledged support especially in regards to military and security assistance.