‘How we turned the tide against Boko Haram’

•Fed Govt to establish military industrial complex

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, has revealed the strategy used by the Army, which changed the tide against Boko Haram.
He spoke in Abuja at the first Nigeria Army Research and Innovation Summit with the theme: “Research and Innovation, Developing Synergy with Indigenous Institutions for Enhanced Capacity in the Nigerian Army”.
Gen. Buratai said when he became the COAS, he set in motion a programme for repair and refitting abandoned and unserviceable weapons and equipment in the inventory, using local resources.
“About 178 armoured vehicles of various types were refurbished by the Army electrical and mechanical engineers at the workshops across the country.
“These were the weapons and equipment operated by well-trained, dedicated and motivated officers and men of the Army that turned the tide of operations in the Northeast in our favour,” he said.
The Army chief said the summit would explore ways of building on existing efforts to meet Army’s operational needs, equipment, logistics and administration, in line with his vision for the force.
He said the Army recognised changes in the dynamics of modern warfare, which required innovation, research and advancement in technology and would develop local capacity for an enduring research and innovation to enhance its operations.
His words: “Our experience in the Northeast and other theatres of operation has helped us draw lessons, which have shaped transformation of the Army aimed at developing and sustaining the right combat power for professionally responsive force. We’ve learnt the hard lessons of over reliance on foreign equipment and spares, which was a setback at the initial stages of our operations.”
The special guest of honour and Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration prioritised research and innovation, which were key to unlocking the door to future technological and economic growth.
He said innovation was a major component of military technology as a critical aspect in national development.
Dan-Ali said the Buhari administration prioritised research and development to reposition the armed forces towards attaining excellence in research and innovation.
The minister said the Federal Government would establish a military industrial complex in Kaduna to promote research and innovation.
“My ministry will host a National Conference on Defence Industrialisation to attract local and international stakeholders to brainstorm and evolve a road map that will guide the take-off of our complex, which will be driven by research and technological innovation,” he said.
Dan-Ali said the ministry was working in partnership with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and foreign manufacturers of equipment to launch a pilot production line of arms and ammunition.
Science and Technology Minister Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu said with innovation in equipment manufacturing by the Army, the country would achieve self-sufficiency in weapons and ammunition.
He said the nation had no business begging to buy ammunition from developed countries, as they could be manufactured locally.