By Victor Akaa, Abuja
The Nigerian Army has signed an agreement with the Defence Industries Corporation (DICON) of Nigeria, and Command Engineering Depot (CED), to cut cost of purchasing foreign equipments,boost the Nigeria’s GDP and create more wealth for the country.
The agreement was signed at the Army Headquarters, by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai to have mass production of about 28 Mines Resistant Anti-ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles, named Ezugwu MRAP ,after the name of inventor, Maj. Gen. Victor Ezugwu.
Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Nigerian Army, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, COAS said the idea was to boost the economy, create wealth and cut costs.
Buratai said, in order to breach this gap, president Muhammadu Buhari had given orders to the Nigerian army to look inward in terms of research and development to see how the equipment will be developed within the country.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON),NA command Kaduna, Maj. Gen. Victor Ezugwu thanked the COAS for the confidence repose in him explaining that his support has endeared them to achieve the heights .
Gen. Ezugwu further explained that the programme was initiated and sponsored by the COAS.
He assured the NA of his resolve of meeting the deadline of the agreement.
The first ten MRAPs is to be manufactured by both DICON and CED and will be delivered to the Nigerian Army in the first week of December 2019.
Meanwhile the Chiefs and elders of the Bassa community has presented the award of excellent to the Chief Of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.
Conferring the the award of ‘BIJESHI’ (which means the warrior) on the Buratai, the Aguma of Bassa Benin, HRH Alh. Bako Abredelu said the award was premised on the monumental successes recorded in curtailing the security challenges in the country specifically the insurgents in the North East.
The Bassa Chief who describe Gen Buratai as a fearless and courageous army officer appealed to him to consider the indigenes of Bassa community in the recruitment exercise of the NA.
In his response, Gen. Buratai thanked the Bassa community for upholding the traditional culture and values, enjoined other traditional institutions in the country to emulate them.
Gen. Buratai who acknowledge the importance of the traditional institutions in the country urged them to maintain peace and security in their various communities.
He employ them to properly checkmate and guide the youth in their respective domains to reduce the incessant emerging security challenges.
