By Victor Akaa, Abuja
The Nigerian Army and that of Turkey are collaborating to fine-tune ways that will strengthen their military operational efficiency and capabilities to tackle insurgency,terrorism and other common insecurity challenges facing the both countries.
Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Hidaye Bayraktar disclosed this when he led a 3-man delegation on a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja on Monday.
Ambassador Bayraktar, said both countries have similar insecurity challenges bordering on insurgency and terrorism as well as other related issues hence the need to have a military bilateral relations to tackle them headlong.
According to him, the visit was borne out the desire to improve on the existing relationship between the two countries and to offer assistance to Nigeria in the possible ways of aiding its fight against terrorism and insurgency as well as other contemporary security issues.
He also acknowledged the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria, noting that there must be a mutual engagement of both countries with their Defence Corporations to tackle the menace, explaining that the Republic of Turkey was willing to assist Nigeria in any area of interest.
In his remarks , the COAS solicited the support of the Republic of Turkey in training of Nigerian Army’s personnel, facilitating the procurement process of its arsenals and improving her Land forces to boost its fighting capacity.
Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya described the visit as an opportunity to further enhance the existing cordial relationship of the two countries will give them mutual benefits.
According to him, they were at a time visited the Turkish Defence Corporation, and were marveled at the level of its military development in the area of the production of modern equipment, describing it as an insightful one.
Gen Yahaya further stated that the relationship between the two countries will shore up the fighting capabilities of the armies of both countries through sharing of intelligence and operational experience
