Buratai: Army Has Developed IED Detection Equipment, Other Technological Breakthroughs…
The Nigerian Army has developed a game-changing improvised explosive device detection equipment, which would be crucial in the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the North-east, especially in checkmating the Boko Haram suicide bombing campaigns.
This was the highlight of the two-day Fourth Quarter Nigerian Army Research and Development (R&D) Conference 2015, at the Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River State, chaired by the Commander, TRADOC, Maj-Gen. Mobolaji Koleoso.
To this end, the chief host and Governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade, promised that with the recent developments and the manner the security chiefs have handled the counter-insurgency operations, Boko Haram would be defeated within the December deadline.
Ayade who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Isu, commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for the way he was prosecuting war against the insurgents and for leading from the front.
“I am sure with the way things are going, the deadline that the president gave to crush the insurgency in the North-east will be realised,” he said.
Earlier, Buratai who declared the conference open, noted that the contemporary geo-strategic environment in which the Nigerian Army is expected to fight is currently becoming more complex and dynamic, requiring re-invigorated efforts toward. Research and Development (R&D).
Buratai stressed that in addition to the already existing threats of militancy, kidnapping, communal and religious violence and so on, terrorism and insurgency perpetrated by non-state actors have further complicated the security environment of Nigeria.
He said: “These trends, to all intent and purposes, threaten the very fabrics of the nation. It thus behooves on us to leverage on R&D efforts, which has become the international best practices, in confronting these complex dynamic security challenges.
“What we are doing here today will fundamentally alter the way we have done things in the past and improve on the processes, especially given the meagre resources available. I am pleased to note that over the past five months, there has been a lot of improvement in our counterinsurgency operation which is still ongoing in the North-east.”
The COAS also disclosed that in order to overcome the emerging security challenges, the army has developed amongst other innovative devices, the IEDs detectors.
He listed areas requiring R&D focus to enhance counter-terrorism operations to include: the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), by the Nigerian Army, the standardisation of T-72 tanks with two variants, development of IEDs detection equipment, static surveillance equipment, food processing (food canning and packaging, etc), and fabrication of weapons and vehicle parts, alternative/renewable energy sources (portable hydro, bio, solar, diesel, etc).
Others are special forces weapons and accessories, tentages and other types of field accommodations/conveniences, communication/transmission equipment, communication intercept/jamming devices, bomb/metal/thermal detection capability, pre-fabricated building materials for barracks/office accommodation, water treatment capability for units, perimeter security and defence mechanisms, and cyber security capabilities.
In the same vein, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Aboyomi Olonisakin, in his goodwill message, said the new army innovation was a reflection of the importance the COAS attached to research and development towards national development.
Olonisakin noted that globally, Nigerians are renowned for technological innovation.
“I want to say that the armed forces is taking the lead for accelerated development through research and development. In order to have a focused results there should be coordination. In order to achieve formidable feat in the fight against terrorism, we will not continue to depend on the importation of foreign weapons.
“After all, several innovative breakthrough that the world is enjoying today are all done by the military. Therefore, be resolute and determined to chart this innovative posture to drive the armed forces and bring development of our nation,” he said.
“You can see that the issue of R&D is very critical not only for the military but towards technological advancement of the country. The military is focusing in that regard and we are having various conferences with the Air Force, Navy and now the Nigerian Army. The area I will really want the army to focus on, which the COAS has mentioned and because of the counter-terrorism operations in the North-east is the area of counter-IEDs,” he stressed.