Mali-bound Nigerian troops say “hail to our Chief”
VANGUARD
23 May, 2013
excerpts
“Presently, we are training 1,000
soldiers to become better and more
effective amphibious soldiers for JTF
operations in the Niger Delta. They
will become better seamen. In this
regards, the Navy has been of tremendous assistance by allowing us
use of the Navy’s Amphibious training
facilities.
“As I am talking to you, we have
established a Battalion known as the
101 Reserve Battalion to be directly
under Army headquarters. It will not
be deployed for ongoing terrorism
clampdown. It will just be on standby for any assigned task. Already out of
the 100 percent requirements needed
for its take off, we have met about 60
percent.
“This shows that we are ready and
prepared to take on even more
challenges. This also explains why in
building capacity, we made it
mandatory that all troops and officers
coming out of depot and other military institutions must undergo
counter-terrorism courses”.
Speaking further, the COAS said, “Since the end of military era and commencement of democratic rule, the
Nigerian Army has not witnessed as
much support and provision of
accommodation facilities as we have now and this has impacted seriously
on the morale of officers and
soldiers”.
“This administration has done a lot for
the army. Tomorrow, I will take
delivery of 10, 000 bullet proof vests
and 10, 000 bullet proof helmets from
the office of the National Security
Adviser for our operations”.
THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, who stated this yesterday at the 2013 Nigerian Army transformation
seminar, noted that contrary to
insinuations that the battle to dislodge terrorists from the North had led to shortage of troops for other operations; the Nigerian Army had enough manpower that was battle ready to undertake more challenges and tasks as may be directed by the Federal Government.
His words: “I want to say that our troops have really done well with regards to assigned tasks in ongoing operations. Moreover, we have set up Standing Monitoring Teams for all such ongoing operations and they update us with regards to ensuring that rules of engagement are followed.
BACKGROUNDER
MADE-IN-NIGERIA HELMETS AND BULLET-PROOF VESTS
FOCUS ON MADE-IN-NIGERIA MILITARY HARDWARE: PROFORCE NIGERIA LIMITED
FOCUS ON MADE-IN-NIGERIA MILITARY HARDWARE: PUBLIC SECTOR AND JOINT VENTURE PRODUCTION
Beegeagle's Blog 
Is there any confirmation that the bullet proofs and helmets are from DICON .
That goes with saying. The main purpose of the DICON-Marom Dolphin flak jacket/night vision goggle factory established last year was to put a stop to the the importation of those items since the local market, with about 750,000 military, police, paramilitary and intelligence services personnel, makes for a very viable venture.
Since last year, we have seen less of the Chinese-type amphibious jacket which was popularised in the Niger Delta during the Gunboat War.
For the AFISMA, UNAMID, MJTF and State of Emergency deployments in Borno, we have only seen freshly-kitted troops in the DICON-Marom Dolphin vests.
See the photos of troops on patrol at Baga, leaving for or on ground in Mali and even those in the 4WD troop carrier in the thread on desert warfare.
State of play…
This shows that the army is increasing tremendiously in professionalism. Kudos to the army
Here is what I think.
The nigerian army of recent makes use of two different types of bullet proof vests. The ones made by dicon-marom and the other by proforce defence.
Most of the troops serving in borno and afisma operations in mali wear that of dicon marom, which also comes in two(2) different types, but in green colour.
Then their is the black variant which members of nigerian army counter force wear. However this variant comes from proforce defence. There is a clear difference between this variant and that of dicon-marom in design, so it’s quite easy to spot one from the other.
The bbc documentary on nigeria’s war on terror, pasted in the blog a week back showed troops wearing proforce defence bullet proof vests.
*troops in mali and the AFP photos of baga operation = dicon marom
*nigerian army counter force troops and BBC documentary = proforce defence.
As for bullet proof helmets only one company(known) in nigeria makes bullet-proof helmets and that’s proforce defence.
So, it’s safe to assume that the company were the ONSA procured the bullet proof vests and helmets is proforce defence. All in all good for nigeria’s manufacturing sector and jobs.
Oga Henry i can count up to up to 7 or 8 different bullet proof vests (i know the one made by DICON has variants) probably locally produced and imported. Take a good look at the guys deployed to Adamawa, i watched the clip on NTA and i discovered they were wearing a totally new vest i have never seen before (green). As for AFISMA, there is a desert camo type (Dont knw who makes dat), The one i pressume should be from DICON(about 2 0r 3 variants) then there is the black and another green that looks like the Proforce black version and most recently a grey camo version..the vests too plenty. I wanted to bring this issue up but i guess the SOE is the main issue for now!
BREAKING NEWS
Suicide bomb attacks in niger republic.
Oga henry, i thought that Niger said that they could handle boko haram, i guess that now all border crossing will be blocked and that there will be a crack down on bh members in Niger.
http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/soldiers-arrested-for-aiding-boko-haram/
That is correct, Henry. Proforce Defence bullet-proof vests skipped my memory. I guess the main point which I wanted to bring to the fore is that these are not going to be imported and WoCon’s mention of DICON got me fixated on their output, to the exclusion of PROFORCE.
We actually have two Nigerian concerns manufacturing two streams of injection of bullet-proof vests at the moment. I shed the spotlight on PROFORCE output not too long ago.
So DICON-MAROM DOLPHIN and PROFORCE DEFENCE(NIG), both Nigeria-based, concurrently supply bullet-proof vests to the defence ans security forces.
The bloated-looking amphibious variant reportedly used to come through another strategic partner of DICON’s – Poly Technologies of China.
PROFORCE BULLETPROOF VEST
PROFORCE HELMET
If it is the case that the bullet proof vests and helmets are made in Nigeria by either DICON or Proforce defense then, I can say the future is looking good for us. If not, we as good as damned. Good bless the federal republic of Nigeria.
Gentlemen, the expansion of the NA has commenced and there shall be no turning back. Off the top of my head, I have enumerated TEN NEW BATTALIONS since October 1, 2012….176 Bn, 101 Reserve Bn, new battalions slated for Yobe and Ekiti states and more at Ibodi-Ilesha, Azare, Kafanchan, Mubi, Doma and Serti.
That means a BOOM in barracks construction projects and NA Engineers who have rebuilt the barracks at Ohafia and have constructed a 60-unit annex at Abuja, the Bayelsa Cantonment in the Niger Delta, the 660-unit Shehu Yar’adua Barracks and the Kuje Barracks of 176 Bn from scratch since 2010, are set to apply themselves to the major tasks ahead.
Already, the Commander of the NA Corps of Engineers, Major General FS Owonibi(who is a younger sibling to the former GOC 3 Armoured Division and retired UNMIL Force Commander, Lt General Joseph Owonibi) has inspected the sites for two projects at Ilesha and Doma in western and central Nigeria respectively.
RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NIGERIAN ARMY ENGINEERS
Oga camo, I agree with you. There are many bullet proof vests worn by our security agencies these days. However, I prefer the variant made by proforce(pictured above nd shown in the BBC documentary).
Oga Henry
Can you expand on why you prefer the pro force version.
Oga jimmy, my preference for the one made by proforce defence has to be with how well fitted the soldiers look in them, and the fact that it provides more cover for the infantry man than the one made by dicon-marom.
You’d notice that the one worn by troops going to mali, did not give the troops full cover. Perhaps, it might have been the measurement used that caused the glitch. However until that error is sorted out, I’d go with the one made by proforce.
*ps, I’m sure they both provide the same high quality ballistics protection, but in terms of look and comprehensive cover, proforce takes it.
In my humble opinion, the Proforce kevlar vest looks more of something tailor made for civilian operations (Police), than the Military. The DICON-Maroom variants are geared towards the military.
please lets continue talking about the proposed units, what would be its compositiion? would they be expeditionary units do we even have paratroopers etc
I am not sure I like the idea of a reserve battalion under AHQ.
Here are a couple of reasons:
1) The BN might be on continuous deployment far from home-base, affecting family life
2) The BN might get deployed to an Area of Operation and not recalled quickly, negating the idea of a “reserve battalion”
3) The BN might be under-used i.e., always in reserve.
4) The BN might be over-used i.e., always available (like the light infantry DIVs – mountain and airborne – of the American Army).
Better to plan for a Guards Division, and let the additional battalions on the Guards Division form the strategic reverse of AHQ.
101 reserve battalion should be added to the Guards Brigade, forming a reinforced brigade. The additional companies can be rotated in and out of nearby hot spots like Nassarawa or Kogi.
The entire army should share the workload equally.
Gen aso rock,i agree with you, its either the reserve battalion is under used or over used. one or the other
my hypothesis is that the nigerian army has added two new special forces batalions. The 101 is a tier 1 unit directly under AHQ the same way you have some spetnaz units under GRU.the NA has amphibious training school, so the training given to the 1000 solgiers by the navy is more advanced amphibious warfare training at the school of underwater warefare navytown, lagos and other facilities used to train the NNSBS.
The batch of 1000 solgiers might form a new battalion specialised in amphibious warfare or be absorbed into other SF batalions.
OGA ASOROCK
much respect i think you are looking in the wrong direction . methinks oga demola is closer to the truth FIRST BY ITS SIZE IT IS GOING TO BE A NEW BATTALION / OR IS ALREADY A NEW BATTALION..Second the word being deployed again this based on the CAN’S WORDS is they will be deployed for task specific purposes / not long deployments.The only misgivings i have is the africom involvement , however i can overcome that by thinking this battalion is likely to be more like a delta force/ seal team6 and very unlike what you are thinking a brigade of guards ( i know you mentioned GUARDS DIVISION ( THAT IS 10-15,0000 MEN).
So in conclusion something akin to spetnaz units under the GRU/ DELTA FORCE UNDER THE AHQ that will not engage in everyday acts in foiling terror plots but other task specific activities.
I don’t think anybody it’s a special force battalion; if it is, then it makes sense – like the Israeli Sayeret Matkal.
If it’s not a special force battalion, then the reasons that lead to it’s setup, will ultimately be the reasons that might ensure that it gets under used, or over used.
My thoughts.
you are on point. great observation
on paper these designated units always seem like grand noble ideas. however, the reality is quite different. they will either become ‘fire brigade’ combat units and over tasked or become largely ceremonial.
reserve battalion for what. quick reaction deployment? special operations unit? what exactly will be the role of this reserve battalion
special forces battalion can always come under the direct command of general staff HQ. but if its just another elite conventional unit, i would say its better to have rotating units, with one on standby, rather than reserve battalion in HQ that will end up with guard duties if underused or stretch too thin if overused, in addition to creating another ‘blue eyed boys’ elitism.
we should not forget that even the guard brigade resisted pure ceremonial nature and still get their hands on foreign ops.
in the 80s, the army had some really efficient battalions that could deploy under 72hours – full spec. same can be replicated today without having a designate battalion ‘on-call’. moreover, they might end up been used more as small unit reaction force, in company size roles given this multi-front flashspots in nigeria and the west africa region
Exactly
By the way, I said they should “plan” for a Guards Division. I didn’t say they should create a Guards Division instead.
Hallelua, hallelua…
You know the US and UK have a special ops command. I would say enlarge it to 2 brigades, one in the north and south. Station them near air bases for rapid deployment and create a command for it under the COAS. That way, u cut down on time waste in sending orders down the chain of command
You know the US and UK have a special ops command. I would say enlarge it to 2 brigades, one in the north and south. Both trained for the terrain that covers their area of ops. Station them near air bases for rapid deployment and create a command for it under the COAS. That way, u cut down on time waste in sending orders down the chain of command
LordFej, na wa o. Paratroopers again? Why not amphibious troops?
Buddy, NA paratroopers jumped into Owerri on one occasion during the Nigerian Civil War(see “Nigerian Revolution and the Biafran War” by Alexander Madiebo) – about 45 years ago while the Nigerian Army, in landing about 30,000 troops across the Atlantic Coast of the Niger Delta about 45 years ago, is documented as the first Third World army to have carried out amphibious landings(see Global Security website)
Here you go..NA paratroopers. We even have female paratroopers inside the G222 plane.
Male and female paratroopers of the Nigerian Army prepare to jump off a G222 plane of the Nigerian Air Force
Nigerian Army paratroopers jump off an Alenia G222 plane during ‘NADCEL 2012’ at Jaji
Nigerian Army paratrooper
Nigerian Army paratroopers
Nigerian Army paratrooper
NA AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS
QUOTE
Nigerian Civil War Ambphbious Operations
Amphibious Army-Navy assault at Bonny on July 26, 1967.
Successful
This opposed beach landing operation also involved the use of merchant ships from the Nigerian National Shipping
Line. It was the first joint Army-Navy combat operation in post-colonial
Nigeria.
II
Joint amphibious Army-Navy operations at Escravos, Koko,Youngtown, Sapele and Warri during operations to
clear the Midwest. (August and September 1967)
Successful
These landings were mostly unopposed.
III
Operation Tiger-Claw: Joint amphibious Army-Navy assault on Calabar on
October 18, 1967.
Successful
IV
Joint amphibious assault
on Oron, March 1968.
Successful
This was the first full coordinated tri-service joint operation, involving
the NA, NN and NAF.
END OF QUOTE
http://globalsecurity.org/military/world/nigeria/marine-commando.htm
Gentlemen, as it concerns new battalions and the NA’s ongoing expansion drive, we note that YOBE STATE needs to receive special attention. The NA have three armoured brigades and five autonomous recce battalions. One of those battalions is stationed in Yobe.
But the NA’s footprint in Yobe needs to be revised. For a start, we had a 255 Tank Battalion in Potiskum during the late 1980s and early 1990s. I humbly suggest that the abandoned barracks be refurbished, like the very good job which was done at the Goodluck Jonathan Barracks in Ohafia. Thereafter, a medium artillery regiment should be stationed at Potiskum.
Let us make a squadron-sized unit of the Desert Warfare Camp at Yusufari – something along the lines of the Base Camp at Kachia.
Thereafter, we should raise a desert warfare battalion to be stationed at GEIDAM and an infantry battalion at DAMATURU. Four battalions/regiment which is not too much. Borno have more units that that. Both are very volatile gateway states which need a special footprint. Ditto the Niger Delta.
Note that we have proposed an arty regiment for Potiskum which is midway between Geidam to the north and Damaturu to the south. That way, the arty unit would be able to support both infantry battalions effectively.
My two kobo.
sorry u know it skipped my mind i am always used to seeing an airborne troop wearing his maroon beret. apologies mon General
BULLETPROOF VESTS: DICON KICKS AGAINST NON-PATRONAGE BY DEFENCE MINISTRY
http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/06/dicon-kicks-over-non-patronage-by-defence-ministry/