The Nigerian Air Force will receive 12 Alpha Jet training-combat aircraft from France, with six being directly put into service and the other six used as spare parts donors. Nigeria has traditionally operated this type of aircraft, having received 24 of them in the 1980s, but currently, only about ten remain operational.
France hopes that the transfer of these aircraft will strengthen its relations with Nigeria, which faces threats from terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP (ISIS in West Africa). This information comes from the French portal Opex360.
According to the publication, France believes that the decision to transfer these aircraft will have a positive impact on Nigeria. This is further supported by the recent visit of the Nigerian president to France, his first in 24 years.
Additionally, in 2016, France and Nigeria signed a defense cooperation agreement that is still in effect today. Given these factors, it seems quite logical that the French decided to offer their 12 "surplus" Alpha Jets to Nigeria, especially since Nigeria's stability is crucial for overall security in West Africa.
The authors of Opex360 also ironically note that President Macron has a special attachment to Nigeria, as he underwent a six-month internship at the local French embassy during his studies at the National School of Administration (ENA).
From Defense Express, we emphasize that this story of transferring Alpha Jets from France to Nigeria fits directly into Paris's previously outlined strategy of promoting its arms on the African continent.
It is also worth mentioning the report from French intelligence in March 2024 stating that some African countries are disappointed with Chinese weaponry, leading the French to conclude that they need to more aggressively promote their arms in Africa.
Furthermore, it is pertinent to note that in September 2024, it was revealed that Russia has lost another defense market, as Nigeria will be the first to purchase attack helicopters from India.