Nigeria has openly expressed its frustration with the United States and finally circumvents its arms sale embargo, instead it turned to Russia and Pakistan to purchase warplanes and helicopters.
The US has frustrated all plans of the federal government to buy military hardwares from it. This started during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan but surprisingly, it was also extended to the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in-spite of the perceived smooth relations between the two countries.
The purchase from Russia and Pakistan was confirmed by Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar who said the purchase was aimed at boosting the military in its efforts to end the insurgency by Boko Haram Islamists in the north and militants in the Niger Delta who are bombing oil installations.
The US has refused to lift its ban on the sale of weapons to Nigeria because of the alleged poor human rights record of the Nigerian military. Abubakar said more than 700 Nigerian troops were receiving training.
“I want to say that we have been enjoying support from other countries. Sometimes arm procurement is shrouded in a lot of politics. Unfortunately, I’m not a politician, so I cannot be able to say much on that. But what I can tell you is that right now as I speak to you, we are expecting the Pakistani Chief of Air Staff in Nigeria soon,” he added.
“Pakistan has accepted to sell 10 trainer airplanes. And that is why the Pakistan Chief of Air Staff is coming for the induction ceremony which is going to take place in Kaduna.
“We are really getting support from many countries. Similarly, we have trained so many people in Pakistan, China.
“In the US, we have pilots that are training right now. We have other pilots that have just finished training from the United Kingdom. We have additional pilots that are training in South Africa,” Abubakar added
