Ministry of Defence under Buhari administration two years on (2)

Our features desk today concludes our tour of landmark achievements of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in her statutory roles of implementing defence policy, the defence of the territorial integrity of the country as well as the interests and wellbeing of her citizenry in the last two years under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. 

OPERATION AWATSE (South West Nigeria)
Operation AWATSE, it is noted, is a joint operation involving the Armed Forces and the Police, aimed at flushing out all manners of criminals including militants and saboteurs in South West region – especially in the riverine areas of Ogun and Lagos States. The Nigerian Air Force recently conducted air bombardment of criminal hideouts to enable ground forces move into the creeks for possible arrest of suspected criminals and pipeline vandals. The activities of criminal elements in this region have been reduced drastically.  

OPERATION PYTHON DANCE (South East Nigeria)
The conduct of operation Python Dance by the Nigerian Army in the South-East has substantially curtailed the activities of kidnappers and criminal elements associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

MILITARY HARDWARES AND PLATFORMS
In aa bold move to improve combat effectiveness and raise the morale of our fighting troops, this present administration has procured modern equipment for the Nigerian Armed Forces through Government-to-Government basis to remove vendors and reduce cost. Some of these equipments are Mine Resistant Ambush Protection vehicles, mine sweepers, mortals and ammunitions for the Nigerian Army, 60 inshore fast patrol boats, 2 new ships (NNS Unity and Centenary) and Falcon Eye Surveillance Project for the Nigerian Navy, while Mi-35M helicopters, Yabhon Flash 20 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and others for the Nigerian Air Force.   

EXTERNAL (GLOBAL) OPERATIONS
One of the foreign policy objectives of Nigeria is to contribute to global security and project Nigeria’s image in the international community. This administration has made adequate effort to assess and improve the      performance of the Nigerian contingent and their equipment status in order to increase Nigeria’s earning from United Nations reimbursements.
Nigerian   troops are currently deployed in PSOs, which include United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Sudan, ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) and Multi-Dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSMA) in Mali. Nigeria also boasts Nigerian military personnel deployed as Military Observers/Staff Officers in other UN Missions.     
Recently, Mr President and C-in-C approved the deployment of battalion strength of Nigerian army personnel and their weapons to participate in the Islamic Military Alliance to fight global terrorism.
COMMITTEES 

During the period under review, the Ministry of Defence has inaugurated the following Committees:
a.   White Paper Committee to review the draft National Defence Policy. Accordingly, the final draft copy of the National Defence Policy and report of the White Paper Committee have been forwarded to Mr President for approval.
b.   Committee to advice on the planned handing over areas liberated by the military from Boko Haram to civil law enforcement agencies. The report of the Committee has been forwarded to Mr President and the implementation stage of the recommendation is in progress.
c.    Committee to collate actual troops’ strength in Operation LAFIYA DOLE aimed at establishing a workable framework for the prompt payment of allowances of troops in theatre of operation towards ensuring adequate welfare of soldiers. Accordingly, the Committee’s recommendations approved by Mr President are being implemented.
d.   Consultative Committee on National Defence Statistics (CCNDS) to develop the Defence National Statistics Compendium that would be used to store Data on MOD and its Agencies.

REVIEW OF EXISTING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
A standing Committee to review existing Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and other countries was set up by the Ministry of Defence and a new Memorandum of Understanding signed during this period include
1.   Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and France to expand the existing MoU on Maritime Security between the two countries to include some prevailing security challenges as well as issues that involve other services.
2. Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria and South Africa to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Armed Forces has conducted several research and development to enhance its capacity building and self-reliance. Some of them include two locally constructed platforms NNS KARADUWA (SDB II) and Tugboat Commander EDWIN UGWU by the Nigerian Navy as well as the production of Operational Gulma Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, hydraulic accumulator diaphragms for Mi-35 helicopters, light utility multi-role aircraft, replacement electrolyte for F-7Ni aircraft batteries and separation of Agusta 109 camera from its multi function display unit by the Nigerian Air Force. This has also helped to save cost.

ABANDONED STRATEGIC ASSESTS
The Armed Forces of Nigeria have been able to reactivate/renovate abandoned strategic assets/installations which were abandoned over several years. The Army has repaired a large number of Armour Fighting Vehicles and Armoured Personnel carriers which is aimed at enhancing its capacity for internal security/operations while the Nigerian Navy has upgraded its Hospital located in Calabar.
Also, the Nigerian Air Force has reactivated some of its aircraft and helicopters to enhance its effort in the on-going counter-insurgency operation in the North-East and other security challenges.

INCREASED COLLABORATION WITH FOREIGN MILITARIES
The confidence in the present administration by the International Community has increased cooperation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria with militaries of neighbouring countries and other nations – especially in the areas of training, intelligence sharing and information management. This has led to the current Multi-National Joint Task Force Operations aimed at combating trans-border crime and Boko Haram insurgency.

Recently, Nigeria hosted the meeting of Ministers of Defence, Chiefs of Defence Staff and Heads of Security and Intelligence Services of Lake Chad Basin Commission Member Countries and Benin Republic.

PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP 
The MOD has explored the policy of Public Private Partnership to facilitate the development of the Defence Industrial Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) into a Military Industrial Complex. In line with this, a Defence Industry Seminar and Defence Committee meeting was held between Nigeria and South Africa from 18 – 19 and 20 – 21 July 2016 respectively. Also, military and civilian experts from DICON are currently undergoing tour of Military Industrial Complex of other developed and developing countries. These are aimed at encouraging transfer of military technology from developed nations for the production of military hardware for the Nigerian Armed Forces and identify areas of collaboration for the establishment of a Military Industrial Complex.

In the meantime, there are ongoing strategic moves to strengthen, review and enhance existing projects and platforms aimed at making Nigeria a safer, stable and secured entity for all.