The United States
government Thursday officially handed over 24 mine-resistant armour-protected
vehicles to the Nigerian army.
At a brief ceremony in
Lagos, the US government said the donation was part of its commitment to assist
Nigeria in its war against insurgency, Premium Times report.
”For many years the
Nigerian armed forces has been a strong partner of the United States,” said
Patrick Doyle, a Colonel and the US Defence Attaché to Nigeria.
“We have asked for
your support in many endeavours, in particular throughout West Africa and you
have responded.
“I believe United
States government security cooperation commitment is second to none. We have
provided extensive training programmes, logistical supports, and equipment to
the Nigerian armed forces and we will continue to do so.”
The armoured vehicles,
which arrived the country on New Year day, were part of the US government’s
Excess Defence Articles Programme, a programme designed to transfer excess US
military equipment to partner nations.
Eight more of the
vehicles are expected to arrive the country soon.
Mr. Doyle said half of
the 24 vehicles are in good working condition but will need “minor work.”
“When the Nigerian
army inspected the vehicles a few months back, they selected the best vehicles
that they could find,” he said.
”The reason we are
giving the vehicles, we have the Excess Defence Programme, is because we are
downsizing forces in our military, we have left Iraq with our forces and we
have downsized our forces in Afghanistan and we do not need all these vehicles
anymore. So Nigeria asked for these vehicles and we gladly provided it to
them.”
There are many land
mines buried by the Boko Haram terrorists across the north-east.
Last August, two
soldiers were killed in Dikwa, Borno State, after a land mine they stepped on
exploded. Two other soldiers sustained serious injuries while an armoured
personnel carrier was destroyed in the blast.
Barry Ndiomu,
representing Nigeria’s Defence Minister, said the vehicles are what is needed
to prosecute the war in the north-east.
“We express our most
profound gratitude for the gift of Mine Resistant Ambush-protected vehicle to
the Nigerian Army. It couldn’t have come at a better time especially
considering the challenges that confront our armed forces in the north east,”
said Mr. Ndiomu, a Major-General.
“We appreciate what
you have done, although like Oliver Twist, we would appreciate if you can do even
more.”
Mr. Ndiomu noted that
some of the armoured vehicles are not serviceable and requested for help from
the US to procure their spare parts.
“The defence adviser
has actually told me about certain steps we need to take. As soon as I return
to Abuja, I’ll pass this information on to the appropriate authorities so we
can initiate the process.”
The 24 armoured
vehicles are worth $11 million (brand new ones), according to Mr. Doyle, and
the other expected eight are valued at $7.5 million.
”The repairs of the
vehicles is up to the Nigerian government to do that,” he said.
“They can repair them
on their own and they have the facilities to do that, but of course the spare
parts are very particular to these vehicles so the General and I have been
discussing and we have been in discussions with the army previously and we were
working modalities on how we will get those parts to them.
“They will have to
order those parts from the United States and we will work out those conditions
and how they will do that but when you say they will pay the United States, the
easiest way to do that is to open a government-to-government case, where we can
then work with them to ensure they get the correct parts and get them in a time
and manner and from the correct manufacturers and the parts they actually
need.” Premium Times report.
Patrick Doyle with
Major-General Barry Ndiomu
I do not see this as assistance because we have enough money to buy this equipment; if not for corruption that has derailed the Federal government. May God help Us. Amen
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