The Nigerian Army says it will no longer be held to ransom by those it depends on for the supply of essential military equipment to enhance its operations.
The Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, who made this known at the inauguration of the Nigerian Army Smart Factory, at the Command Engineering Depot, Kaduna.
Buratai disclosed that the army will continue to invest in research, development and innovation, to enhance critical operations.
In the past, the Nigerian armed forces have relied heavily on importation of defence logistics from its allies to enhance its operations. But this is changing, following the Presidential Executive Order 5 on local content production.
The Nigerian Army is leveraging on this to inaugurate its smart factory for the production of military spare parts for its armouries, to enhance all its operations.
The Chief of Army Staff, who was represented by the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Major General Jamil Sarham, said gone are the days when the Army will be held to ransom to procure spare parts, while its operations suffer.
The Army Chief said the impact of research, development, and innovation in warfare cannot be underestimated, hence the Nigerian Army will continue to invest heavily as well as provide the necessary platforms that would help to curtail any security threat that will undermine the sovereignty of the country.
