The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a loan of approximately $618 million from a consortium of financiers to acquire six Italian-made M-346 attack jets and ammunition for the Nigerian Air Force.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the announcement on Wednesday.
The Air Force has indicated that the first three jets are expected to arrive by early 2025, with the remaining deliveries scheduled to extend through mid-2026.
Just last week, Nigeria’s Air Force revealed the acquisition of 24 Italian-made M-346 attack jets and ten AW-109 Trekker helicopters as part of its fleet renewal strategy.
Air Force spokesperson Olusola Akinboyewa noted that a delegation led by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, met in Rome with executives from the manufacturer, Leonardo S.P.A. The company confirmed that the first three M-346 jets will arrive by early 2025, with subsequent deliveries continuing through mid-2026.
This development is expected to enhance the firepower and aerial capabilities of troops engaged in the ongoing fight against insurgents in the country.
Nigeria first initiated discussions with the Italian firm in early 2024 when Claudio Sabatino, Vice President of Leonardo, met with Nigeria’s Air Force Chief, Hasan Abubakar, in Abuja.
The Federal Government has significantly ramped up defense and security spending in recent years to tackle various national security threats, allocating about N3.3 trillion to the defense sector for the 2024 fiscal year.
Despite some successes, recent developments indicate that Boko Haram and other armed groups continue to pose significant challenges in the Northeast and other regions of the country.
