Thread by @DefenseNigeria

Remember this footage? The call for the creation of an independent air wing for the Nigerian army.

So Nigeria's Minister of Defence is seeking US intervention to fully establish an Aviation Unit for the Nigerian Army as a Force Multiplier in the ongoing fight against ISWAP. Why would Nigeria need foreign assistance to create an air wing for the army?

In July 2019 we witnessed the commissioning of the first ever Army Aviation hanger in Jaji, Kaduna state by the former Army Chief.

Two years prior in 2017 the Nigerian army moved to the next level with the official creation of an Army Aviation Corps, in its bid to have an independent air wing. The first set of 19 Army pilots trained by the Nigerian Army Aviation School to were decorated 13 December 2017.

The 19 young pilots had undergone a two year intensive training and completed their primary flying training at the International Helicopter Flying School (IHFS) Enugu. The COAS said the essence of the Aviation Corpis to enhance the fighting capabilities of the Nigerian Army.

QUOTE

We have compiled list of platforms from Russian, American and Chinese origin including UAVs. One project that is dear to me is the take off of the Nigerian Army Aviation. All activities towards building the NA Aviation Corps is still in progress.

It is hoped that very soon, the NA would be able to acquire its own platforms to enable the corps kick off wholly. So far, the main activities been undertaken are the training of the pilots and necessary negotiations towards acquiring the helicopters.

Emphasis was however on Russian made Mi-17 due to its ruggedness, operability and multi-role capabiity. The NA also considered the South African Rooivalk attack helicopters after witnessing a demonstration in SA on the capability of the platforms and its employability.

As it is now, the NA Aviation might eventually take-off with any platform it can acquire as long as the platform can perform the expected roles..

END QUOTE.

The Army continued to struggle for years to make its case for an army aviation wing in lieu of the fact it bears the brunt of the Boko Haram insurgency much more than its sister components.

Inter-service rivalry with the Air Force, coupled with its overly strategic focus on relatively safe interdiction mission rather than close air support failed to meet the needs of maneuver commanders on the ground.

Nothing was heard of the much anticipated Army Aviation Corp....

ENTER 2031.

We have Nigeria's Defence Minister asking the United States to help create an Army Aviation Wing for the Nigerian army.

This has to be the most bizzare episode of institutional paralysis weve seen in a long time. Why does Nigeria need American assistance in creating an Army Aviation Corp?Nigeria is a top tier African country, not a small dependent state.

This request gives the wrong impression that Nigerians cannot be capable of self security unless with outside help, and therefore raising the issue of new form of neo colonisation and permanent dependency on developed countries..only this time it's in reverse.

As far back as 2008 Liberia and Morocco offered to play host to US military base, but there was nothing to suggest that the US wanted to consider their offer. The US appeared to have specific interest in the Gulf of Guinea. The problem was never non availability of location.

The problem was the refusal of the targeted host country. The Pentagon never wanted Liberia or Morocco to host the AFRICOM. Nigeria was the targeted country, but the Nigerian Executive Council not only rejected the AFRICOM in Nigeria, the Nigerian Senate was also hostile to it.

Today in a Reversal, Nigeria Wants U.S. Africa Command Headquarters in Africa. In April PMB, in a virtual meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, requested that the United States move the U.S AFRICOM headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Africa.

Twelve years ago Nigeria opposed AFRICOM's plans to move to the continent.

Buhari argued that AFRICOM's HQ should be closer to the theater of operations. The U.S is already im our backyard. It doesnt get closer than that.

One Reaper drone base in Garoua Cameroon, two in Niamey and Agadez Niger, one in Ndjamena Chad, another one in Mali. All in Nigeria's backyard. SIX YEARS no recorded drone strike on ISWAP and Boko Haram. Think about it. The U.S and France have maintained separate

..drone bases in every country that share a land border with Nigeria, and yet there been no drone strike against Boko Haram. No air strike against ISWAP. Not once. In SIX YEARS !! What have they been doing in our backyard for all these years..

...they have flown countless drone and air strike misisons against targets in southern Libya from these same bases, but hitting Boko Haram and ISWAP targets is forbidden..to both France and the United States.

When President George Bush established AFRICOM in 2007, The Nigerian government took the lead in persuading other African states against accepting the AFRICOM headquarters, which was thereupon established at Stuttgart, Germany.

How ironic.