by Chidi Okoye
Defence authorities have reportedly began taking delivery of military hardware and equipments. needed to tackle the war against the Boko Haram insurgents.
According to Punch Newspaper, the military hardware were imported from Russia, Belarus and other eastern European countries. Some of the items were received at the Port of Lagos and were being moved to designated locations in Abuja and other parts of the country.
The report stated that several Russian-made Armoured Personnel Carriers were seen being conveyed in military trucks along Okenne-Lokoja-Abuja Express Way, while other military trucks were also sighted conveying containers of items suspected to be military hardware along the same routes.
It is also believed that the military was receiving the items in batches from Russian, Belarus and other European countries by sea and by air.
A senior military officer was quoted as saying that the military equipment were being received at the Apapa Port, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, and Kaduna, adding that containers of spare parts for attack helicopters had also been received by the Defence authorities early in the week.
The source said: “It is true that we have started receiving some military hardware in the country. Of course, we couldn’t get them from our friends in the West. It is no longer news that they refused to sell to us. We are getting the items from Russia, Belarus and other Eastern European countries. They are coming in batches. We are receiving them in batches both by sea and by air.”
“Apart from the items from Lagos, there are others coming in by air from the air ports in Kaduna and Kano. Some of the items that are being received include the APCs that you saw, components of some Air Force platforms. Yes, there are some attack helicopters; they are to be coupled together in the country. These are expected to boost the already high morale of the troops.”
