By Abimbola Ogunnaike
President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated 700 troop-carrying trucks made in the Ojo area of Lagos State on Friday, 3 March, 2023.
Buhari joined the commissioning virtually while the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo; joined physically.
Other dignitaries who were present physically included: the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao; the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, Ibrahim Kana.
The President, who said the decision was to boost the fight against threats in the land, maintained that his efforts to end insurgency and other criminalities across six geo-political zones of the country would be sustained till May 29 when he would be exiting the office as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He said the military vehicles were produced by Stallion Group in Lagos, adding that his commitment to peaceful Nigeria was evident during last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Defence, Magashi, said the complexity of crimes in various spheres of operation requires all actors both public and private to synergise efforts to safeguard the country from every form of anti-establishment activities.
“With the induction of these vehicles, the armed forces would be better equipped to ensure troops are conveyed safely and timely to objective areas which would enhance the operational efficiency of the Services,” he said.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Kana, stated that the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), located in Kaduna State, would be strengthened in order to face the challenges of local production of military hard wares.
