The Minister of Defence Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) has assured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to flushing out criminal elements from the troubled spots in parts of the country.
General Magashi stated this while briefing Chairman and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence regarding the Military Technical Cooperation Agreement he signed in Moscow last month between the Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Russian Federation.
The Minister’s visit to the National Assembly was in response to the invitation by the House Committee on Defence to brief chairman and members on the military bilateral Technical Cooperation Agreement between Nigeria and Russia. This was contained in a statement issued by the ministry on Tuesday 14 September, 2021.
The committee on Defence said the 5 – year Memorandum of Understanding signed in August last month in Moscow between the two countries was sequel to the expiration of the 20001 to 20006 Military Technical Cooperation Agreement which he scored its performance very high to warrant its renewal this year.
He explained that the Legal document ab initio took cognisance of the National Interests vis- a- vis the Operational Needs Assessment and there is no cause for alarm.
The Minister briefed Babajimi Benson led Committee on Defence that the 8 – point articles of Agreements cover acquisition of modern equipment to strengthen the capabilities of the Nation’s Fighting Forces in the various theaters and training of the military officers and personnel among other core areas addressed in the document.
The Committee Chairman Babajimi Benson had earlier sought clarifications from the Minister of Defence on the benefits derivable from the MoU between Nigeria and Russia towards actualising the National aspirations to end insurgency, banditry and kidnapping as well as its likely impact on technological transfer to empower the Defence Industrial Corporation of Nigeria, DICON to which the Minister assured on a win – win deals.
Other members of the Committee took turns to ask salient questions touching on Internal Security Operations, and the State of the Nation’s defence system to which the defence Minister responded appropriately that substantial progress is being recorded in restoring peace to the dark spots in parts of the country.
Dominica Nwabufo
