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Defense News Nigeria

14 Oct, 14 tweets, 10 min read

" In a few years, Nigeria will become “by far, the greatest military force in Africa.”
- Yemi Osibanjo. July 2019.

Possessing a highly developed defense industrial base is a prerequisite to becoming a leading military power.

Journey so far?

These are made in Nigeria ARA II MRAPs of the Chadian army.

It is Nigeria's first defence export, exported to six African countries already, plus a European nation recently showed interest. Proof Nigeria has the capacity to produce world class defence products.

The ability of Nigeria's arms industry to domestically develop certain advanced weapon systems is still in its infancy. However if Nigeria can successfully strengthen its defense industry, it can establish itself as a African leader in cutting edge military capabilities.

Take the dramatic evolution of DICON in a 5 year span for example.

This is the IGIRIGI MRAP. Unveilled in in 2012, the IGIRIGI represents the Nigerian army's first attempt at joining the league of amoured vehicle producing nations, and achieve self sufficiency.

Five years later in 2017, the Nigerian army unveils the EZEGWU Mine Resistant Armoured Personnel Carrier (MRAP).

Twelve months later in 2018, the Nigerian army unveilled an improved version of the EZEGWU MRAP.

In 2019 a new and vastly improved iteration of the EZEGWU is unveilled. It features twin remote control weapons station, and an IED deflecting V shaped hull.

At the same time, in a move that displayed the creativity of Nigerian army engineers, frontline units are running a parallel program producing MRAPs smack right in the frontlines by fusing pre-existing APCs into truck chasis, with little care about aesthetics.

The result?...

...an intimidating looking behemoth aptly named " CONQUEROR".

Enter 2020. The army unveills an entirely new class of EZEGWU MRAPs. The best MRAP ever produced by the army thus far.

You will be tempted to think it doesnt get better than this.......

ENTER 2021. The Nigerian army yet again unveills its most sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing iteration of the EZEGWU MRAP so far.

Since 2016 the Nigerian government has made military self sufficiency among its top priority. It launched organizational reforms to spur innovation and competition within Nigeria'a defence industry.

The Nigerian army is NOT numero uno in this field...

That title belongs to PROFOCE, Nigeria's foremost supplier of amoured vehicles and a wide spectrum of defence solutions.

Competition spurrs innovation. The army's competition with Proforce for lucrative deals has uncharacteristically spurred innovate in the Nigerian army and improve the quality of its amoured vehicles if it wants to compete with the private sector.

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More from @DefenseNigeria

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17 Oct

Some people see 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun and automatically believe it's over..even though rhey dont have a clue what a 12.7mm gun is.

Boko Haram commander Abubakar Shekau and his deputy nut jobs with 12.7mm "Dushka's" 2014.

2015. Chadian troops intercept a transfer of 12.7mm Dushkas from ISIS to Boko Haram.

2017 Boko Vehicles with 12.7mm Dushkas destroyed by NAF airstrikes.

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17 Oct

Ive always known Nigerians can be among the most gullible. What came as a surprise however is that the world renowned Wall Street Journal is capable of gutter journalism with the likes of Sahara Reporters and Gazette. The Wall Street Journal issued a report claiming

..that the Nigerian Air Force paid $20 million to armed bandits in exchange for a 12.7mm calibre Dushka class anti aircraft gun for fear it will shoot down the Presidents plane.. The WSJ said the desperate deal was brokered as the President was planning a trip to Katsina.

Stating that the mission to buy back the 12.7mm antiaircraft gun is because such military hardware in the hands of bandits “posed a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari's plane, who had been planning to fly to his hometown about 80 miles away.

Incredible !!

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16 Oct

Responding to the HATE messages in my DMs for the crime of sensitizing the public on the strides being made by the Nigerian military.

But one question, why do some people hate Nigeria so much? They hate Nigeria with religious fervour.

Nigeria is a massive refutation of their utopian fantasy, eldorado, perfect. They compare Nigeria with their vision of a perfect country which has never existed. Rather than change their false theories, they lash out at Nigeria and those daring to espouse hope for Nigeria.

If we consider a “perfect” country, it is not hard to find problems in Nigeria..u know, ethnic prejudice, massive corruption, senseless nepotism, economic exploitation, greed, etc. However, countries do not exist in fantasyland. They exist in the real world.

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15 Oct

It is someitmes easy to forget how incredibly vast the forests of the northeast/west are. The Sambisa forest alone is over 66,000 square km, or simply put 12 times the size of Lagos. There are forests of equally vast proportions in the northwest.

It will require six 40 kiloton nuclear warheads to wipe out all of Sambisa. There were simply not enough troops to execute the classic sweep and block maneuver required to attack insurgents and try prevent their escape.

One should not underestimate the logistical difficulty and danger of deploying even specially trained troops into hostile territory so vast insurgents have enough space and time to set up defences and traps. Landing zones for helicopters would have certainly come under fire.

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15 Oct

Isnt it funny when Boko Haram or ISWAP make unverifiable claims the news media in Nigeria gorge on it like ravenous wolves. But when the Nigerian military announces gains the same media go on a fact checking spree. Came across this report from a well established media company.

QUOTE

How many Boko Haram fighters have really surrendered to Nigerian forces? The headlines would want the world to believe they were 13,243. Really?" But this is a gross misrepresentation of facts, as presented by the Defence Headquarters.

END QUOTE

This, ladies and gentlemen is the Nigerian media of 2021. It will be less aggravating if these media houses actually embed reporters in the ground with troops to get a first hand account. They are scared. Nobody wants to die. We live in an era of where reporters looking

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Defense News Nigeria

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15 Oct

Nigeria's Army Boss Faruk Yahaya has called on the Russian government to support Nigeria with “sophisticated equipment” to improve security in the country. The army chief also spoke on the need to support collaboration between Russia and Nigeria.

Gen Faruk Yahaya also has stated that the Nigerian Army will further explore the cordial bilateral relations between the Nigerian army and Russian government for acquisition of military equipment to enhance its operations across the country.

Reminiscing the long existing relationship between the Nigerian army and Russia, the Army Chief expressed the need to rekindle the relationship for their mutual benefit.

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