Saudi Arabia is refusing to allow cargo aircraft loaded with defence items to fly from Pakistan to Nigeria through its airspace, This Day reported on 29 December.

Citing unidentified intelligence sources, the Nigerian newspaper said Riyadh's decision to block the deliveries was linked to the US decision to halt the sale of Israeli Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed on 12 November that the US had blocked the transfer of Cobra attack helicopters due to "concerns about Nigeria's ability to use and maintain this type of helicopter [and] concerns about the Nigerian military's protection of civilians when conducting military operations" against the militant group Boko Haram