The United States has defended its refusal to sell cobra helicopters to Nigeria, saying the Federal Government is free to buy fighter jets from any other country.

“Nigeria has purchased helicopters that originated in countries other than the US and nothing in our decision prevents Nigeria from obtaining weapons and equipment from other sources,” its State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said on Wednesday.

Psaki was responding to questions from journalists on the allegations by the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, that Washington declined to sell lethal arms to Nigeria.

Adefuye had also told members of the Council on Foreign Relations on Monday that Washington was not doing enough to assist Nigeria in combating the Boko Haram insurgency in North-East zone of the country.

He said, “The U.S. government has up till today refused to grant Nigeria’s request to purchase lethal equipment that would have brought down the terrorists within a short time on the basis of the allegations that Nigeria’s defence forces have been violating human rights of Boko Haram suspects when captured or arrested.

“We find it difficult to understand how and why, in spite of the U.S. presence in Nigeria, with their sophisticated military technology, Boko Haram should be expanding and becoming more deadly.”

But Psaki said that the US refused to sell the helicopters to Nigeria due to concerns about the ability of the military to use and maintain them.

The cobra is a combat aircraft with the ability to climb at the rate of 8.2metres per second. It is equipped with a 20 mm M197 3-barrelled Gatling cannon in the A/A49E-7 turret (750 rounds ammo capacity).

Psaki said there were ongoing concerns about the Nigerian military’s protection of civilians when conducting military operations, adding that these had been discussed with the Nigerian authorities.

The State Department spokeswoman added, “Earlier this year, we denied the transfer of some cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria due to concerns about Nigeria’s ability to use and maintain this type of helicopter in its effort against Boko Haram and ongoing concerns about the Nigerian military’s protection of civilians when conducting military operations. We shared those concerns with Nigeria before this decision and subsequent to it.

“We’ll continue to look for ways to deepen our cooperation with Nigeria to help it acquire the systems and skills needed to restore peace and security. But obviously, we’ve provided a great deal of assistance over the past several months.”

Psaki said Washington would not have raised concerns on human rights abuses by the Nigerian military “if we didn’t feel and others didn’t feel that they were warranted.”

She assured the Nigerian government that the US was ready to help Nigeria train and improve the effectiveness of its military.

Urging the Federal Government to investigate allegations of abuses by the military, Psaki stated that the US valued its long standing relationship with Nigeria.

She said that Washington had been offering various forms of assistance to Nigeria, including sharing intelligence with its armed forces .

Psaki said, “Let me just lay out the facts of our assistance: Over the past six months, the United States has started sharing intelligence with Nigeria, began training a new army battalion and held numerous high-level discussions with Nigerian authorities on additional measures to best address the Boko Haram threat.

“We have also provided and approved sales of military equipment to its armed forces. These decisions are made, of course, after careful scrutiny to ensure they conform with the US law.”

Our correspondents could not get the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, to speak on the issue as calls to his mobile telephone did not connect.

Also, Olukolade did not respond to a text message sent to him.

When contacted, the Director, Communications Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, said, “I am in transit right now and I am hearing about this from you for the first time, I can’t comment on it. You may ask the Defence Headquarters.’’
http://www.punchng.com/news/we-wont-sell-fighter-helicopters-to-nigeria-us-insists/

well we will buy from your competitor

U.S is a funny country, they are concern about the safety of civilians. My question is, is it not thesame civilians boko haram is killing in their hundreds almost on a daily basis? At least we don't need another prophet to tell us they are only concern about the fulfilment of their prophecy of divided Nigeria by 2015

isn't it obvious dat they are boko haram masters well, ur wishes 4 dis country will neva happen.

[img]http://www.aviationnews.eu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AH-1W-Super-Cobra.jpg[/img]

Meet a Cobra and a Super Cobra Helicopter.

what kind of statement is that, yes they are training our army, yet they don't want them to handle the best fighting equipments, something is fishing.

US sees Nigerians as corrupt people so it can only be assumed by them that Fighter jets would eventually cause more harm than good to the country's citizenry. One shot from Super cobra could destroy an entire community if not handled meticulously.
We are talking about a country where the death of any civilian doesn't diminish the government, rather the government sees it as a normal thing unlike the US.
We're talking about a country where Militants (let me not mention names before they find me through my email) have artilleries bigger than that of an entire country - I went to supply goods to one of them recently and I wept for my country.
A country where the security level is so low that these jets could be hijacked by these Militants any time any day and used to haunt even the Original sellers. Leave o, US always have reasons for every action.

But the US sees nothing wrong in funding and equipping designated terror groups like Al Qaeda and IS in Syria.

Benghazi, Libya still remains a hotbed of Islamic fanatics that have contributed more jihadist fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan but the US saw nothing wrong in using Benghazi Islamic militias to topple a stable society and throw it into carnage.

America is also very active in the Congo by sponsoring several armed militia to wage war against each other.


It should be crystal clear to all of you by now that this current US administration has a global destabilization agenda promoting internal conflict and strife.

Obama you are a bastard and any of you NSA spies tracking this can suck my c0ck

They can't sell the helipcopter to nigeria... since they think they are the only perfect one's who can't use the cobra helipcopter...then they should teach us how to use it...so that they won't harm the innocent pple.

Wen our so called army was giving Boko Haram arms..... who is fooling who

Once again the sheer imbecility of many Nigerians is on display in this comment section.

Most of our Attack helicopter force is russian made Mi-35 hind variant. Wikipedia says Nigerian Airforce had placed an order for 3 in 2013.

Nigeria has ABSOLUTELY NO NEED and no pressing reason to buy arms from the US.

There are probably all sorts of reason why the Nigerian Government is happy to divert attention to the US refusal to sell weapons to Nigeria. Corruption, money laundering and a desperation to divert attention from their incompetence are probably chief reasons.

What is inexcusable here is seeing all these educated Nigerians that commented above me accepting this utterly inane excuse.

Buy helicopters from Russia like we've always done and stop this m0r0nic attempt to deflect blame.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Air_Force

We do not have any attack helicopters from the US in our Arsenal. None of our main battle tanks or APCs are US made. The bulk of our artillery is from the former USSR. Why are you m0r0ns suddenly swallowing this BS inept excuse that suddenly we are being 'betrayed by the Americans' that is why we are struggling this badly?

Disgusting.

sighs

jide53:
well we will buy from your competitor

We have ALWAYS bought the vast majority of our weaponry from non-US countries. This is a non-issue.

http://www.janes.com/article/43347/nigeria-to-buy-significant-number-of-russian-helos

Russia concluded a deal with Nigeria last month on deliveries of a 'significant' consignment of Mil transport and attack helicopters, according to a senior official with the state-owned corporation Rostec.

"In August a contract was signed with Nigeria on the deliveries of [Russian] helicopters," Sergei Goreslavsky, head of Rostec's International Cooperation Department, said at the ADEX 2014 international defence exhibition, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11-13 September.

Although he declined to detail the specific number of helicopters involved, he added: "We are talking here about a significant number of Mi-171Sh helicopters and several Mi-35M helicopters."

I'm far more interested in why we had such a shoddy attack helicopter fleet even with the creek insurrection just a few years ago and the ongoing massive crude oil theft.

Would someone please explain to me why the Nigerian army can't overrun the ill-equipped BH fighters with ground forces alone? Why can't they simply send 50,000 or more troops to the area and route the enemy.

This helicopter excuse is getting old. SMH

It might surprise you that a Nigerian intellectual might be able to develop a better attack helicopter if promised to be given defence contract if he or she succeeds.


Ojukwu will never miss this kind of opportunity to showcase black men brilliant minds

De wont sel arms dat wil finish dia boys. Lyk ds post if u belief d US hav hands in ds BH menace

Get from another country.

BlackTechnology:
It might surprise you that a Nigerian intellectual might be able to develop a better attack helicopter if promised to be given defence contract if he or she succeeds.


Ojukwu will never miss this kind of opportunity to showcase black men brilliant minds

You cannot be serious.

Buy from Russia. They can eat their military hardwares. Isreal-their ally-has killed many civilians than we could count,yet the onion face US supplies them with everything they need to continue the human right abuse.

God is watching all of u in 100" 3D television

They should even go a die with their stupid weapons jare we are the owner of our money we would go and buy our weapons from oder countries that are willing to sell weapons to us I don't even know what they are feeling like sef

Their useless black hawks were shot down by skinny anorexic somali dude high on kat with a $250 Russian RPG.

Russian RPG 2 vs 0 US Black Hawk

nduchucks:
Would someone please explain to me why the Nigerian army can't overrun the ill-equipped BH fighters with ground forces alone? Why can't they simply send 50,000 or more troops to the area and route the enemy.

This helicopter excuse is getting old. SMH

You should know by now that this is an unconventional warfare and again that the Insurgents know the terrains more than our military hence the primary effective combat strategy is a capable backup combat helicopters with 99% precision on targets.

There will be this sense of apprehension that will be registered in Bokoharam fighters subconsciousness if they know there are sufficient backups for our infantry in any attempt on ambush.

texazzpete:


You cannot be serious.

Olodo square

BlackTechnology:
It might surprise you that a Nigerian intellectual might be able to develop a better attack helicopter if promised to be given defence contract if he or she succeeds.


Ojukwu will never miss this kind of opportunity to showcase black men brilliant minds

Yes,it would surprise me.

After all our Nigerian intellectuals have made computer chips, smart phones, LED televisions, spark plugs, car batteries, garri processing machines, belts, shoes, even toothpaste, we even have 24 electricity and super fast internet, of course, how stupid of me......please lets make our own 'attack helicopters' jare, we didn't we think of that since.....

Ojukwu = ogbunike bomb ( the most sophisticated bomb of the 1960's)

Then we'll buy from Russia

BlackTechnology:
[i][/i]
Olodo square

I should think that the person who expresses confidence that a Nigerian can wake up and design and build a better attack helicopter than the state of the art models being built for the USAF - just because he's given a contract - is the actual olodo

These things take time. Investment in education, training, manufacturing...state of the art testing facilities.
We're talking YEARS or work here. Many, many years.

I notice you haven't volunteered to build or design or engineer anything. Color me surprised

JEITO:
Then we'll buy from Russia

We are already buying from Russia.

This whole controversy is to divert attention...it only works on half-wits and people with stunted intelligence, which is why it's getting so much traction on Nairaland

Why is d intl community always complaining about human rights when dez terrorists are killing innocent lives everyday ? I believe USA somehow has a hand in d acts of BH cos their so called presence have had no impact in curtailing these terrorists activities. They prefer dez unnecessary killings by jihadists to baseless info about abuse of rights by d military.

Though USA may be free from all accusations.