U.S. moves to lift Nigeria arms ban

US lawmaker Darrel Issah who led a delegation of the US Congress Judicial Committee met with Nigeria military Service Chiefs in a closed-door meeting in Abuja August 3, speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting assured them that his government (US) has begun the process of lifting its restriction on the sale of military equipment to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram terrorists.

''There are a number of things that we discussed today,'' Issah told journalists. ''Basically, there was the need for additional technical support, including overhead surveillance. This is important for Boko Haram but it is also important to stop the theft of this country’s oil by pirates and others. The fact is that this new regime with the new general staff has begun the process of ensuring that military professionalism in all post-civilians and combats has been made in a way that we can both be confident that the rule of law is being obeyed. So the process has begun to lift the restriction of the Leahy Law. But let’s understand that the vast majority of support that the US provides and would provide would be provided regardless of those. Our technical support, our training and most of the equipment we supply have never stopped and will continue. But we are looking forward to the President, with the new General Staff to work to make sure the people of Nigeria can have the confidence in the professionalism of the military, something the people rely on when the military is trying to clear insurgents and protect civilians.''

The refusal of the US government to sell arms to Nigeria because of the Leahy law which prevents the US State Department and the Department of Defence from selling arms and ammunition to countries whose military abuses human rights.