Thread by @DefenseNigeria

We are in the midst of the biggest expansion of the Nigerian military in its 61 year history, dwarfing the golden 80s era by a large margin.

To be clear, Nigeria's military modernization began long before PMB became president. ISR assets like the King Air 359i, ATR-42 MPAs,

..the Type 056 "stealth offshore patrol vessels and the Navy's indigenous ship building program can be accredited to GEJ. But the pace and scope of that effort has greatly accelerated under PMB. More remarkable given the fiscal challenges inherited.

Key changes include the introduction of sophisticated equipment, structural reforms to resolve qualitative issues. The best thing that happened to the military was the elimination of 3rd party agents in arms procurement, and dealing directly with arms manufacturers.

The military has undergone profound and fundamental changes. The Nigerian army was once a poorly outfitted force that aimed to win battles by sheer weight of numbers, but met an enemy that aimed to win battles through guerrilla tactics and attrition. It was a zerosome game

for the Nigerian armed forces. Evolve or die. There is no middle ground. No grey areas, no ceasefire negotiations with a non state actor, and for a decade the military focused squarely on developing battlefield tactics for counter insurgency on an adhoc basis.

With structural reforms for hybrid or 5th dimensional warfare met, the Nigerian military has since 2019 has pivoted towards deterrence and preparations for local wars against regional opponents, and near peer or superior adversaries.

This implied a need for more capable air and naval forces as well as expanded amoured and artillery forces, accompanied by changes in training, doctrine while still retaining its counter insurgency proficiency that was ganered through a decade of trial and error.

The elimination of 3rd party agents in arms procurement means that the Nigerian military was able to resist certain aspects of corruption in its re-armament program. Also of importance is that these reforms cuts across the three component of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

One problem that plagued the military was that it held on to a ‘big army’ mentality. The army took prominence in just about everything while the other services were poorly integrated and funded. Hardest hit was the Air Force. PMBs heralded an acceleration of arms procurement.

While many had their origins under GEJ, a number of key kinetic and non kinetic systems came online in the PMB era, including the creation of semi autonomous Commands, like the Nigerian Army Cyberwarfare Command and Defence Space Administration. Their establishment

In the Kinetic arena we have lthe VT4- MBT, ST-I wheeled light tanks, SH-105mm long range artillery, Mi-17IE helicopter, Wing Loong II, CH-4 and CH-3B armed drones.

In the air, while PMB took credit for programs begun under his predecessors, like the JF-17 multi-role fighter..

All this implies Nigeria's growing confidence operating in the region and even farther afield as Nigeria's ability to project power expands.
Yet the Nigerian military is operating at a 40% capacity over pending deliveries. Contemplate what operating at 90% will be like.

The Nigerian Air Force is expected to take delivery of 24 M-346 aircraft,

In Gambia, a naval blockade and the deployment of fighter jets, ISR aircafts and Special Forces troops was all that was required to convince Gambian dictator, Yahya Jammeh to step down and relinquish power.

The NAF is expected to take deliveries of Wing Loong II, CH-4and CH-3B armed attack drones from China a week or two from now.

The NAF plans to increase its JF-17 fighter fleet to three complete Squadrons in the near future.

The Nigerian Navy early this year announced plans to aquire a new Frigate.

The Nigerian Army aviation is coming on stream before the end of the year. The army is also expecting delivery of the second batch of VT-4 MBT and 105m artillery.

Nigeria made the first combat use of the VT-4 MBT when it launched called "Tura Takai Bango" in January.

Nigeria is also the only country in the world, outside of China that operates the ST-I tank destroyer.

In a six year span Nigeria has built one of the best fighting forces on the continent. Perhaps of greater significance is the fact that the military has garnered years of combat experience. On the ground, in the air, at sea. The Nigerian military has been super busy.