The United States Government has donated 24 Mine-Resistant, Armour-Protected vehicles to Nigeria to help in the war against Boko Haram insurgents especially in the North Eastern part of the country.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, presented the vehicles, said to worth over $11 Million, to the Nigerian Government at the 9 Brigade Parade Ground in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Represented by the US Defence Attache, Colonel Patrick Doyle, Entwistle said that the gesture was part of his government’s continued support for Nigeria in the fight against insurgency.
“The sacrifices that have been made by Nigeria to help the Nigerian people and the West African countries in the fight against Boko Haram is commendable. I believe that the US commitment to Nigeria is second to none.
“We will continue to support the Nigerian Government in its fight against Boko Haram.
“We are, therefore, presenting these 24 vehicles to the Nigerian Army to aid them in their assignments.”
Entwistle said that his government was donating the vehicles through its Excess Defence Articles Programme, adding that the Nigerian Government arranged for the transportation of the vehicles to Lagos from the US.
The Envoy also said that it would be the responsibility of Nigeria to repair some of the vehicles that were not in good condition, adding that the US Government is currently downsizing its troops and had decided to donate some of its MRAPs to his partner countries like Nigeria.
He said that very soon Nigeria would be receiving an additional eight MRAPs.
The Minister of Defence, retired Brigadier General Dan-Ali, represented by Major General Barry Ndiomu, the Chief of Training and Operations at the Defence Headquarters, commended the US Government for the donation.
Dan-Alli said that the donation would not have come at a better time than now, especially as Nigeria is grappling with the problem of insurgency.
“We express our most profound gratitude to the US Government for this donation.
“Well, like Oliver Twist, we still want to call on the US Government to support us in providing the necessary spare parts for the vehicles.” [myad]
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