As part of its military cooperation effort with Nigeria, the United States government Thursday donated more than 24 mine-resistant armour-protected vehicles worth $11 million to the Nigerian army in a brief ceremony in Lagos.
Eight more of the hand-me-down vehicles, valued at $7.5 million, will soon arrive the country.
The donation emanated from the US policy—Excess Defence Article Programme—of transferring redundant military hardware to partner nations.
Col. Patrick Doyle, US defence attache to Nigeria, said the Nigerian armed forces have been a strong partner of the United States for many years, especially throughout West Africa, and so his country will be willing to do more for the partnership.
“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.”
According to Doyle, half of the 24 vehicles are in good working condition but will need minor work. The Nigerian army had inspected the vehicles a few months back, and had made their picks of the best they could find.
”The reason we are giving the vehicles is because we are downsizing forces in our military,” said, adding “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 them.”
Barry Ndiomu, representing Nigeria’s Defence Minister Muhammad Dan-Ali, said the vehicles are needed to prosecute the war in the north-east.
Boko Haram terrorists had planted land mines across their former sanctuary in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, killing both civilian and federal troops engaged in military campaign in the last two years.
Ndiomu noted the equipment wouldn’t have at a better time, considering the challenges that confront our armed forces in the north east,” said Ndiomu, a major-general. He said the equipment will soon be moved to the Nigerian Army Electrical Maintenance Engineers workshop in Bauchi.
“We appreciate what you have done, although like Oliver Twist, we would appreciate if you can do even more,” he added, requesting for US help in procuring spare parts for the other half that need repairs.
Doyle believed the Nigeria army should be able to handle the repairs. But he agreed the spare parts are very particular to these vehicles, and they have to be ordered from the United States.
“The easiest way to do that,” Doyle said, “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.”