Military Equipment to Fight Boko Haram Held up at Tin Can Port

Paul Obi

The federal government yesterday revealed that military hardware such as sophisticated weapons meant to fight Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east part of the country had been help up at the Tin Can Island Port.

The Minister of Defence, Brig-General Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), stated this in Abuja during the inauguration of the Nigerian Army War College, Abuja.

According to him, though “government will continue to support the armed forces in its quest to continue professionalising,” at the moment, government is confronted with delay of many of its imported equipment held up at the Tin Can Island Port.

Dan-Ali said: “Already, government is acquiring necessary equipment ‘required by the military to prosecute the war against insurgency in the North-east.

“New platforms are already waiting final clearance from Tin Can Island Port and very soon, they will be inserted into Operation Lafiya Dole.

“The procurement of new equipment coupled with good leadership has boosted the morale of the troops; which has led to the numerous successes recorded in the fight against terrorism.”

He explained that “the Army War College was established in order to develop the capacities of officers at the operational level. This level forms the nucleus of the armed forces being the level between the tactical and the strategic levels.

The minister noted that “the curriculum of the Army War College cover operational art as well as inter-agency cooperation and coordination in military operations. These are important requirements for any operational level leader.

On adhering to democratic norms, the minister said: “It is the duty of all officers and men to be absolutely loyal to constituted authority at all times. Issues of Indiscipline will be viewed seriously in order to maintain professionalism in the military.”

Speaking to the participants of Course 1/2017, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, urged them to put in their best mentally and rigorously to uplift army operations in the country.

Buratai called on the participants to concentrate on their studies as excellent performance in the college is likely going to be a criterion for promotion to higher ranks in the army such as Brigadier General.

The Commandant of the Army War College, Major General AG Okunola, likewise pledged the commitment of the college to best practices and standards.