Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, the minister said there was no contract of such nature and sum between Nigeria and the US
The Nigerian Government on Friday said
it is not aware of any $875 million ammunition deal with the US which is being
purportedly blocked by some lawmakers in that country.
The Minister of Information and Culture,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the purported ammunition deal reported in some
sections of the media as ” fake news.”
“There is no contract of arms between
the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United States of America today apart
from the 12 Super Tucano Attack Helicopters of which six had been delivered.
“We are quite satisfied with the
progress and cooperation that we received from the government of the US on this
issue.
“As a matter of fact, six of the Tucano helicopters
will be launched on Aug. 3, this year.
“We are not aware of the so called
875million USD arms contract or some helicopters which they said some lawmakers
in the US are trying to persuade the president of the US not to honour.
” The relationship between Nigeria and
the US is smooth and waxing stronger,’’ he said.
The reports in some sections of the
media had claimed that influential U.S. lawmakers were masterminding a hold on
a proposed sale of ammunition and attack helicopters to Nigeria over allegations
of human rights abuses and anti-democratic actions of the present
administration.
The report listed the blocked proposed sale to include 12 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters accompanied by defense systems, 28 helicopter engines produced by GE Aviation and 14 military-grade aircraft navigation systems made by Honeywell.
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