Minister of State(Defence),Mrs Obada tests a GPMG while Brig.Gen Golau and Army Special Forces watch
VANGUARD
December 4, 2012
BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI
ABUJA
Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada has said the European Union, EU, can come to the aid of the Nigerian military in the areas of intelligence gathering,counter-terrorism training and modern technology used in diffusing improvised explosive devices, IEDS. She spoke while receiving the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Mr. Gilles De Kerchove, in her office.
The minister said these were vital areas in which the EU counter-terrorism office can support Nigeria for her to checkmate insecurity and terrorism challenges facing the nation. She commended the counter-terrorism chief for showing interest in how Nigeria can scale through the present terrorism hurdles.
Obada said: “This is about the third time you are visiting Nigeria to find out how the EU can be of assistance to solving this problem.”
Earlier, Mr. De Kerchove said he was in the country to discuss latest developments and efforts at fighting
insecurity and terrorism because of
the importance of Nigeria in the efforts to achieve world peace. He said counter-terrorism component of the EU was created in 1994 after the Madrid bombings in Europe,adding that EU was ready to support Nigeria in counter-terrorism training.
He said: “We would like to know how
we can support the Nigerian Army in
particular and the Joint Task Forces because we know they are involved and
doing a lot to checkmate the insecurity and terrorism challenges. “We are also aware that you are participating in the ECOWAS force that is being put in place to reclaim the territory of Mali that has fallen into the hands of rebels in that country. “We would like to know the areas where you feel we can support your country.”
Madam Defense Minister,
In addition to your request to the EU for help with technology for detecting and defeating IEDs and with intelligence, please ask them to donate some of their surplus military equipments to us. There are surplus A-6 tanks, Holland class OPVs, boxer IFVs that are needed to fight terrorism in Nigeria and for peace-keeping functions in Mali and elsewhere.