From. SADIQ ABUBAKAR Maiduguri –
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai has commended the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiyà Dole, Theater Command Headquarters Maimalari Cantonment Maiduguri, Major-General Olusegun Gabriel Adeniyi, for initiating and coordinating the production of 7 locally made MRAPs in 3 variants.
He described the Research, development and evolution of the home grown technologies in military equipment production as champion and invincible for producing Conqueror MRAP variants.
The COAS stated this Wednesday evening at the commissioning ceremony of 7 MARPs and one Crane Loader Truck improvised for the troops to fight book Haram Insurgents in the Sambisa Forest.
Represented by the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiyà Dole, Maj-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, he also said that the theater command has also undertaken the conversion of gun trucks and tractors to armoured Gun Trucks All Tertian
He added that Fire Eaters with armoured Plating were made by the Theater Command to provide local protection for troops while in harbour and in defensive positions.
Buratai noted that the whole materials for the platforms were sources from within the theater command except for the bullet-resistant glasses which were obtained from Kaduna and already in use for the theater.
General Buratai emphasized that “the efforts and sacrifices of the Theater Commander a d officers if the theater represents the very good walking steps that can take us to the deAired flight tomorrow”.
“It is pertinent to night that in the light of these efforts, operation Lafiya Dole provides significant prospects for Nigeria post war military technological advancement if these efforts can be harnessed and improved upon.
“I hereby Commend the Theater Commander, officers and soldiers if operation Lafiya Dole for this novel effort. Be rest assured that Army Headquarters will do all it can to encourage and support further research and production if these platforms,” Buratai said.
The COAS reminded that the mandate of operation Lafiyà Dole which is “to defeat Insurgents in the north east and restore law and order in the region ” is a task that must be done.
In his remark, the Chief of Staff, Theater Command, Brig-Gen. M. I. Abdullahi noted that the process started with a research and development where initiatives were developed using local materials for the production.
He appreciated the role played by the Theater Commander, Maj. Gen. Adeniyi in coordinating and ensuring that the platforms were produced by the team of military engineers while urging the method to be sustained
The Mechanical Engineer behind the production, Brig-Gen. B. I. Alaya, thanked the Theater Commander for his support and encouragement.
He also briefly the technical and mechanical composition of the locally made armoured vehicles produced mainly for the troops to fight Boko Haram Insurgents in the bushes a d forest.
Highlights of the event were inspection of the vehicles, test driving and group photographs, among others.
Leave a Reply