The United States has lifted a legislative hold on a nearly $1 billion arms sale to Nigeria because of worries about the Nigerian government’s human rights record.

The sale of 12 Bell AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters was placed on hold in July by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The sale of the $997 million attack helicopters was approved by the US Department of State on Thursday.

US foreign policy and national security objectives will be supported by this planned sale to a vital African partner, according to the announcement on the sale.

Nigeria has had to deal with an increase in kidnappings and violent robberies for ransom in areas where security authorities have failed to keep armed gangs under check.

A growing number of analysts believe that sanctions against Russia and Belarus, who have traditionally had military ties with Nigeria, might lead to the West African state importing guns from China as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.

After Nigerian troops opened fire on anti-police brutality protestors in Lagos in October 2020, US authorities protested that the country’s military was using “excessive force” against defenceless citizens. They urged for a halt to this behaviour.

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