The Nigerian army has accepted the supply of military equipment from the China Corporation of Northern Industry (NORINCO).
According to local sources, NORINCO delivered the first of 17 combat vehicles that compromised VT4 main battle tanks, 105-mm SH5 self-propelled howitzers with wheels, and the destruction of ST1 tanks.
Accepting arms deliveries on Wednesday, Lieutenant General Lamidi Adesun, chief of the Army and Politics (CPPLANS), said Nigerians should expect more vigorous operations to address the threat of instability, including Boko Haram, banditry and others, according to thisdaylive.com,
He said the weapons were acquired through the Department of Defense, adding that proper preparations had been made for maintenance and the availability of spare parts.
Adeosun said: “The process of acquiring this has been going on for some time, but, thank God, they are going now.
“From this, you can see how seriously the federal government of Nigeria makes sure that the Nigerian army is not only equipped, but also contains the problem of insecurity that we experience throughout the country.
“This is solved with trained personnel and the necessary equipment. What you see here is just the tip of the iceberg. Others are still arriving, but it’s very important that we all see that both the military and the government are really very serious about resolving security problems across the country. ”
Answering the question of where the weapons were purchased from, Adesun answered that this is a new weapon from China, adding that “it belongs to different categories: heavy tanks, light tanks, and we also have two types of artillery weapons, all from China. They have the latest technology in tanks and weapons.
“The first set of 15 40-foot containers that were unloaded to this day consisted of spare parts and accessories for all this equipment.
“So, they have already left the port and are already on their way to their destination. Just like we are here, most of them will also move to their respective destinations.
“Those who will manage them have been trained in China. If not for the blockage caused by COVID-19, we expected some of their trainers to join us here to educate more people.
“Expect a more reliable operation from the army that will pose a threat to insecurity, including Boko Haram, bandits and others.”
