- Nigeria to get 3m euros from Germany for procurement of military equipment
- Germany says the objective of the cooperation with Nigeria is to assist the country to conduct crisis prevention, crisis management and peace building operations
- Mansur Dan-Ali, the minister of defence, thanks Germany for the support
The fight against insurgency in the North-east has received massive boost as Germany is set to provide Nigeria with three million Euros (N329million) for the procurement of surveillance equipment, mobile medical care unit and other support services for the country’s armed forces, Daily Trust reports.
This was disclosed by Mansur Dan-Ali, the minister of defence, on Sunday, December 18, during a joint news conference with the German Defence Minister, Ursala Von dar Leyen, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
It was gathered that the Germany defence minister was in Abuja to hand over some military equipment donated her country to Nigeria.
According to Dan-Ali, the three million Euros would be provided through the extension of the German Technical Advisory Group Agreement for three years, 2017 to 2020.
He said that Germany had donated two mobile care units with extensive care unit facilities to Nigeria, under the existing agreement between the two countries from 2012 to 2016.
The minister also noted that Germany have donated Vallon metal detector/Improvised Explosive Device and Explosive Ordnance Disposal equipment, as well training of personnel and maintenance of the device.
Dan-Ali said Nigeria had also received three Mobile Tactical Ground Surveillance Radar systems from Germany for border security in the North-east.
He thanked Germany for the assistance it had extended to the Nigerian armed forces so far to enhance their capacity to fight the Boko Haram terrorists.
His words: “As we are all aware, terrorism is a threat to the existence of humanity and its development. We must, therefore, continue to stand resolute and united in our fight to stamp terrorism out of the planet.”
In her remark, the German defence minister, who handed over the equipment to Dan-Ali, noted that combating terrorism was both “difficult and dangerious.’’
She said: “Everywhere, the terrorists live bloody trail of destruction and death and time and again, they single out the most vulnerable of their targets like children just like the Boko Haram does in Nigeria.
“This is why it is in our common interest that the population at home in my country, as well as here in Nigeria is safe so that the economy can grow again.
“Because that is the basis for jobs and prosperity so people can believe in the future in their homeland.”
Leyen said that the objective of the cooperation between her country and Nigeria was to assist the country to “conduct crisis prevention, crisis management and peace building operations.’’
She noted that terrorists abuse religion for their own evil purposes, spread terror and violence all over the world, in France, Belgium, Aghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Germany and here in Nigeria.
She added: “To compliment this, Germany is focusing on practical, very concrete issues – the capability and equipment the Nigerian servicemen need most urgently such as the protection against the many IEDs place by the Boko Haram.’’
She noted that Nigeria was fighting a hard but most important fight, assuring the support of her country.
Recall that the European Union (EU) on February 11 pledged the sum of $50 million in support of Nigeria’s current struggle against insurgency attacks, and the attendant problems associated with providing for internally displaced persons and other victims of various attacks in the nation.
The announcement was made at the Aso Rock villa during a meeting between the German president Joachim Gauck and President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Gauck held that the EU had resolved to join forces with the Buhari administration in its ongoing fight against terrorism in the nation, as well as neighbouring countries and the African Union.
Speaking further, Gauck said it was Germany’s intentions to see a peaceful Nigeria under the reign of President Muhammadu Buhari.
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