The Federal Government has again been blocked by the United States from acquiring fighter ground attack aircraft important in the fight against Boko Haram.
America has prevented the Nigerian Military from getting the A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft from Brazil according to investigations.
A Presidency source said on Saturday that Nigeria and Brazil were almost striking a deal on the acquisition of the light attack aircraft when the US, which produced the aircraft, prevented the deal.
It was gathered that the leadership of the Armed Forces had taken a decision to replace the ailing Alpha jet platform of the Nigerian Air Force with the newer A-29 Super Tucano.
The Brazilians were alleged to be initially enthusiastic about the deal before they suddenly became reluctant.
The source added the US had told the Brazilians, who acquired 99 of the aircraft from the US firm, Embraer Defence System, that the aircraft deal be put on hold due to human rights issues involving the military.
The US had blocked the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan from acquiring Boeing CH-47 Chinok helicopters from Israel in January 2015 purportedly due to human rights issues involving the military.
Like the case of the A-29 Super Tucano, the Boeing CH-47 Chinok helicopters were produced by US firms and could only be sold with approval by the Americans.
The latest development has dimmed indications that the US was relaxing the arms embargo on the country with the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
US Congressman Darrel Isah had said shortly after a meeting with service chiefs and defence authorities in the country in August 2015 that the US had commenced the process of relaxing the embargo on military assistance to the country under the Leahy Law.
The Leahy Law prohibits the US defence sector from providing military assistance to countries involved in rights violations.
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