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military hardware imported from Russia, Belarus and other
Eastern European countries, required for the prosecution of
the war against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.
It was revealed that some of the items were received at the
Port of Lagos and were being moved to designated locations
in Abuja and other parts of the country.
The Punch reports that several Russian-made Armoured
Personnel Carriers were sighted being conveyed in long open
military trucks along Okenne-Lokoja-Abuja Express Way.
Also reportedly sighted were some other heavy trucks
(painted in military green) conveying containers of items
suspected to be military hardware along the same routes.
It was further reported that the Nigerian defense authorities
was receiving the items in batches from Russian, Belarus and
other European countries by sea and by air.
An undisclosed senior military official on Wednesday, who
disclosed that the military equipment were being received at
the Apapa Port, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport,
Lagos, the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and
Kaduna, also revealed that containers of spare parts for
attack helicopters had also been received by the Defence
authorities early in the week.
The attack helicopters and other platforms are to be coupled
here in Nigeria.
“It is true that we have started receiving some military
hardware in the country. Of course, we couldn’t get them from
our friends in the West. It is no longer news that they refused
to sell to us.
“We are getting the items from Russia, Belarus and other
Eastern European countries. They are coming in batches. We
are receiving them in batches both by sea and by air.
“Apart from the items from Lagos, there are others coming in
by air from the air ports in Kaduna and Kano.
“Some of the items that are being received include the APCs
that you saw, components of some Air Force platforms. Yes,
there are some attack helicopters; they are to be coupled
together in the country. These are expected to boost the
already high morale of the troops,” the source said.
The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade,
neither confirmed nor denied the arrival of the items, merely
saying, “We are incrementally enhancing our stock in all the
mission areas as part of the ongoing measures to enhance
our effectiveness.”
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