The Nigerian Army has disclosed that some mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles will be delivered to it in a couple of weeks.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja made the disclosure while addressing troops during a familialisation tour to the 23 Brigade in Gibson Jalo Cantonment, Yola in Adamawa State.
The Army chief who lauded President Bola Tinubu for the support of his administration towards the transformation of the Army, said the expected delivery was part of the agenda to reposition the army.
He said, “The current government, in its effort to reposition the Army is doing a lot. In the next few weeks, we are expecting mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles to enhance the conduct of our operations nationwide.”
The COAS also revealed that the Nigerian Army Aviation would soon come on stream, adding, that the Army is working towards how those assets can quickly be on the ground before July 2024.
Lagbaja said much has recently been done to curb insecurity in hitherto troubled subregions such as the South-South, South-East and North-Central, noting that the remaining most troublesome challenges still noticed in North-West and part of North-East are being aggressively addressed.
“With the support we are getting from Mr President, putting everything together, in the foreseeable future, I see the security situation across Nigeria improve tremendously,” he said.
Addressing the troops directly, the COAS told them that he chose to visit them for a first-hand experience of how they live and how they conduct their operations.
He told them that their bosses had briefed him of their challenges including living outside the cantonment in rented houses, irregular power supply to the cantonment, and poor road network.
He assured them that the challenges would be addressed, and urged them to continue to be up and doing.
“I want to encourage you to be unrelenting in the discharge of your duties. Is it anti-banditory? Is it counter-terrorism? Is it normal internal security operations? Whatever task you are given, you should take it as a duty that must be discharged creditably. The Army will address the challenges that confront you and your family,” the Army chief assured the troops.
