Strong indications have emerged that
the United States has again blocked the
Federal Government from acquiring
fighter ground attack aircraft considered
crucial in the ongoing campaign against
Boko Haram in the North-East.
Investigations showed that the US has
prevented the military from acquiring
the A-29 Super Tucano light attack
aircraft from Brazil.
A Presidency source said on Saturday
that Nigeria and Brazil were almost
striking a deal on the acquisition of the
light attack aircraft when the US, which
produced the aircraft, prevented the
deal.
It was gathered that the leadership of
the Armed Forces had taken a decision
to replace the ailing Alpha jet platform
of the Nigerian Air Force with the newer
A-29 Super Tucano.
The source said that the Brazilians, who
were initially enthusiastic about the
deal, suddenly became reluctant.
The source added the US had told the
Brazilians, who acquired 99 of the
aircraft from the US firm, Embraer
Defence System, that the aircraft deal be
put on hold due to human rights issues
involving the military.
The US had blocked the immediate past
administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan
from acquiring Boeing CH-47 Chinok
helicopters from Israel in January 2015
purportedly due to human rights issues
involving the military.
Like the case of the A-29 Super Tucano,
the Boeing CH-47 Chinok helicopters
were produced by US firms and could
only be sold with approval by the
Americans.
The latest development has dimmed
indications that the US was relaxing the
arms embargo on the country with the
election of President Muhammadu
Buhari in 2015.
US Congressman Darrel Isah had said
shortly after a meeting with service
chiefs and defence authorities in the
country in August 2015 that the US had
commenced the process of relaxing the
embargo on military assistance to the
country under the Leahy Law.
The Leahy Law prohibits the US defence
sector from providing military
assistance to countries involved in
rights violations.
The source added that the US
Government was not pleased with
measures adopted against those
accused of human rights abuse in the
operational areas of the North-East.
The source said, “The issue of the arms
embargo against the country by the US
is still in force. The US is helping in the
area of training; they also have some of
their platforms like the C130 which is so
crucial in the campaign and operations
of the military.
“However, the surprising thing is that
they have again prevented the country
from acquiring A29, Super Tucano light
attack aircraft from Brazil.
“The US sold the aircraft to the
Brazilians but they gave a condition
that they could only be resold to other
countries with the consent of the US.
This means that Brazil must seek the
permission of the US to sell.
“The Brazilians were enthusiastic when
they visited Nigeria and the impression
we had was that they were ready to sell,
provided the funds were available.
“Curiously, they later developed cold feet
because America started quoting human
rights issues to block the deal.
“The aircraft are unique because the
plan was to use the A-29 Super Tucano,
Fighter Ground Attack aircraft to replace
the ailing Alpha jets.
“The Alpha jets are old now; the Alpha
jets and the MI helicopter gunships are
the two major platforms deployed in the
North-East.”
However, it was said that the US had
inspected some facilities of the NAF
even though the deal was shrouded in
uncertainty.
Our correspondent gathered that the
prevailing arms blockade had again
compelled the government to look in the
direction of Asia and Eastern Europe for
arms supply to fight Boko Haram.
It was learnt that the Federal
Government had paid for 10 Super
Mushak trainers from Pakistan expected
to arrived the country by the first week
of December 2016.
It was further learnt that plans had
reached an advanced stage to bring in
12 MI 35M, one of the latest helicopter
gunships from Russia.
It was gathered that pilots and
technicians who were sent to Russia for
training on the use of the sophisticated
helicopters had completed training and
had returned to the country to await the
arrival of the equipment.
Although the military had not changed
the plan to replace the Alpha jets with
the A-29 attack helicopters, the
government was said to be acquiring the
MI35m in phases.
Source: Punchng
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