PMB Commissions Military Vehicles to Tackle Insecurity in the Country
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government remains steadfast in winning the war against insurgency and maintaining peace in the country.
The President in a virtual meeting made the statement while commissioning 700 Ashok Leyland Troops Carrying Vehicles to tackle contemporary security challenges in the country at the Nigerian Navy Holdings Limited, Asokoro, Abuja.
He said the security challenges in the country have been confronted with a lot of zeal and professionalism through the transformational reforms in the Armed Forces.
The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) in his address said that the commissioning of Military vehicles by the President is another significant milestone amongst many initiatives of the Present administration in repositioning the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The Armed Forces has maintained an aggressive posture in its operational activities to combat various forms of menace within the country. These are evident across various Theatres of Operations and the support to INEC in the 2023 elections. With the commissioning of these vehicles, the Armed Forces would be better equipped to ensure Troops are conveyed safely and timely to objective areas which would enhance the operational efficiency of the Services,” The Honourable Minister said.
Gen Magashi noted that the vehicles were assembled in Lagos, thus providing employment to Nigerians adding that the company will train Armed Forces Engineers for the maintenance of the vehicles.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, mni while giving his welcome address said that the engagement of an indigenous company was hinged on the Minister’s conviction of this administration to promote the utilization of the indigenous technology as enshrined in the Executive Order 5 (EO5) signed by the President.
He remarked that the vision of Ministry of Defence in repositioning Defence Industries Cooperation of Nigeria (DICON) to deliver on its mandate is gradually transiting into a Military Industrial Complex (MIC) that will assume the role of a regulator over local and international organizations that seek to do business with Government.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao amongst others.
Maureen Ukoh and Fatimah Yusuf
For: Director (Press)
3/3/2023
