* Defence College report rues military’s deficient
equipment
* Advises local production of weapons
After years of foot-dragging, the US State Department has
finally approved a $593 million sale to Nigeria of A-29 Super
Tucano attack planes with associated parts, training, facilities
and weapons.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered its
certification of the foreign military sale to Congress, as required
by law, on August 2, according to United Press International.
The military equipment sales approval came just as a Nigerian
Defence College report submitted to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo
in July admitted that Boko Haram had made much impact in its
terrorist activities in the North-east because it had superior fire
power.
The report, which was the outcome of a research by the college’s
Course 25, said the Nigerian military had been hampered in its
operations against the terrorists because it lacked the technical
equipment necessary to stand up to Boko Haram.
The college’s report corroborated another report by the US
Bureau of Counter-terrorism, released in July 2017 and reported
exclusively by THISDAY on Monday, that the military lacked the
capacity to hold the grounds conquered by it from Boko Haram due to
tactical and strategic challenges.
Although the military claimed Thursday that the publication and
analyses of the US bureau report were detrimental to national
security, the approval of the sale of military equipment to it must
be good news to its high command.
By the approval, 12 airplanes would be sold to the Nigerian
military.
The 12 A-29s, equipped with wing-mounted machine guns, weapons
integration with advanced surveillance and precision-guided bombs,
and even air-to-air missiles will help Nigeria to combat the Boko
Haram insurgents and other extremist groups, such as the Islamic
State West Africa splinter group.
The equipment will also help Nigeria to counter smuggling and
other forms of trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.
The DSCA had determined that U.S. security interests would be
served by assisting Nigeria in its counter-insurgency operations
and that the A-29 sale would not significantly alter the military
balance of power in the region.
The contract would require the U.S. Government or private
contractors to provide training and support and would include
instructions on rules of engagement and human rights to help
prevent civilian casualties.
The Embraer A-29 Super Tucano is a turboprop light attack plane
in service with countries across the world. It is designed for
counter-insurgency operations and close-air support in areas
lacking significant air defences. It is also widely used as a
training aircraft.
It is a contender in the U.S. Air Force’s OA-X light attack
aircraft competition for a low-cost and easy to operate and
maintain air support platform.
Light planes like the Tucano can fulfil air support and
surveillance needs in low-risk environments at a much lower
operational cost than heavier jets like the A-10 or F-16 and
require less flight and maintenance training.
The attack planes will be a big boost for Nigeria’s military
anti-terrorism campaign in the North-east of the country.
Past attempts to procure the plane under the Barack Obama
administration were frustrated by accusations of human rights
abuses against Nigeria’s military.
According to Defence Industry Daily, the Super Tucano is known
as the A-29 or ALX in Brazil, but abroad, it’s the EMB 314
successor to Embraer’s widely-used EMB 312 Tucano trainer.
The plane offers better flight performance than the EMB 312
Tucano, plus armouring and wing-mounted machine guns, weapons
integration with advanced surveillance and targeting pods,
precision-guided bombs, and even air-to-air missiles.
This makes it an excellent territorial defence and close support
plane for low-budget air forces, as well as a surveillance asset
with armed attack capability. Brazil uses it this way, for
instance, alongside very advanced EMB-145 airborne radar and
maritime patrol jet platforms.
In Africa, Ghana, Angola, Burkina Faso, Angola, Mauritania,
either have the Tucano in their air forces, or they had placed
orders for new supplies.
Defence College Report Rues Military’s Deficient Equipment
The expected planes would come in handy to redress the pathetic
situation of the military which the Nigerian Defence College report
painted. Entitled: ‘Terrorism and National Security: The Nigerian
Experience’, a strategy and security policy paper presented to the
vice-president by the National Defence College Course 25 in July
2017, it stated that the terrorists were staging a comeback because
the military did not have the adequate and requisite equipment to
stop them.
“Most of the units overran by the Boko Haram terrorists was not
because of the military’s inability to fight, but due to lack of
weapons, ammunition and basic fighting equipment,” the report said,
explaining that most of the units fighting terrorists required
specialised technical equipment to be able to carry out their
assigned tasks.
“The units lack the full complements of equipment needed to
discharge their roles and this hampers the kinetic efforts in the
North-east,” the report emphasised.
To support the assertion that the Nigerian military lacked the
superior firepower to stop Boko Haram, the security document
stated: “In March 2017, about 30 soldiers fighting Boko Haram
terrorists in the North-east revealed details about the mass
killings of their colleagues due to poor firepower and inadequate
equipment to combat the insurgents,” adding that the military had
been in short supply of equipment for effective operations since
2013.
It stated that inadequate firepower had continued to undermine
the efforts of operation ‘Lafiya Dole’ in completely countering the
Boko Haram terrorists.
It narrated: “In April 2017, Boko Haram terrorists invaded the
military barracks in Sabon Garin in Damboa Local Government Area of
Borno State and overwhelmed the troops with superior
firepower.”
To turn the tide of the event, the strategy document advised
that Nigeria should invest in arms and ammunition production
locally. “With most countries in the West dragging their feet to
sell military platforms to Nigeria, there is the need to start
looking inwards to be able to sustain the fight against terrorism
in the long run,” it said.
The report said the inability of the military to garner the
resources needed to produce these platforms locally was a great
obstacle.
The US Bureau of Counter-terrorism report had similar findings
and this was exclusively reported by THISDAY on the day Acting
President Osinbajo condemned penultimate Tuesday’s ambush of the
Chad Basin oil exploration team by the Boko Haram, leading to the
deaths and abduction of members of the ill-fated team.
The US report belied the claim by the federal government that it
was on top of the situation in the North-east.
While directing military chiefs to relocate to the North-east last
week, Osinbajo had said that the government was on top of the
crisis despite the resurgence of terrorists’ attacks in the
troubled region, the most recent of which was the ambush of the
exploration team.
But the report by the US Bureau, which tracks terrorism and
counter terrorism measures across the world, found that Nigeria was
not on top of the situation.
The report stated: “Despite gains made by the Multi-National
Joint Task Force (MNJTF), much of its reported progress was merely
duplication of failed efforts carried over from the end of last
dry/fighting season,” adding: “The Nigerian military was unable to
hold and rebuild civilian structures and institutions in those
areas it had cleared.”
It also faulted the decision of the federal government to return
internally displaced people to their original places of abode,
saying that this was being done without adequate security.
“The Nigerian government continued to facilitate the return of
internally displaced persons to their home communities, although
sometimes without providing adequate security and before
appropriate conditions were in place for safe, informed, voluntary
returns,” it said.
The report also said that Nigeria did not show any evidence that
it would implement a coordinated plan to restore civilian security
in recaptured territories.
Another weakness in Nigeria’s approach to dislodging Boko Haram
as shown by the US report is the lack of coordination among
intelligence gathering agencies.
Analyses of US Report on Boko Haram Detrimental to National
Security, Says DHQ
Three clear days after THISDAY publication of the US Bureau
report, the Nigerian military finally found its voice, claiming
that it was detrimental to national security.
A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen John
Enenche, in Abuja, said the analyses that had followed the THISDAY
report had continued to derail the nation’s counter-insurgency
plans in many ways, adding that they were eroding the confidence of
the public in the military.
Enenche said: “It has been observed by the Defence Headquarters
that Nigerians and the general public are being misinformed on the
‘Country Reports on Terrorism 2016’ released by the United States
of America (USA) Department of State.
“The misinformation cuts across sensational headlines in some
print and electronic media to prejudiced comments and analysis of
the report among others, which are detrimental to Nigeria’s
national security and interest. Therefore, it is instructive to
present the report in the right and objective perspective to
Nigerians.
“Country reports on terrorism are submitted on annual basis in
compliance with Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f
(the ‘Act’) by the Department of State to Congress. It is aimed at
providing a report on those countries and groups that meet the
criteria of the Act. The report used to be published as ‘Patterns
of Global Terrorism’ up till 2003 but was changed to the present
title beginning from 2004.
“Thus, against the contrary picture given to Nigerians and the
general public on the report in question, it did not cover only
Nigeria but covered; Niger, Cameroon and Chad. That is, all the
countries affected by Boko Haram Terrorists menace.”
He explained: “It is necessary to point out that the USA does
not publish this report with the objective of causing restiveness
among the populace, but to draw government’s attention to areas
that could be improved upon to tackle global terrorism.
“Thus, credit must be given to the USA for its strategic global
efforts towards ensuring a more secure world. As such, Nigeria and
the general public should not believe the misinformants whose
intentions are to pit the Nigerian Military negatively against the
USA.
“At this point, it is necessary to let Nigerians and the general
public know that the USA and other international partners have been
supporting the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the fight against
insurgency and terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin region.
“The report is not being objectively analysed by the
misinformers because of their ulterior motive. Thus, it behoves the
Defence Headquarters to clarify the particular sentence that was
capitalised upon, which is ‘The Nigerian Military was unable to
hold and rebuild civilian Structures and Institutions in those
areas it had cleared’. The simple and objective interpretation is
as follows:
“The report was for 2016 and not January to July 2017. Hence,
attributing the assertion to be current is rather wicked and should
be disregarded.
“To clear an area in this context is a military task while to
hold is the task of para-military and other security agencies.”
Enenche said: “After the decimation of the terrorist strongholds
in the North-east, other security agencies such as the Nigeria
Police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps have been taking
hold of areas cleared by the military. That is why Adamawa and Yobe
States have virtually little incidents of terrorist acts in the
recent past.
“Furthermore, the rebuilding of civilian structures and
institutions is not a military task. It is purely the
responsibility of the government of which a lot is being done.
“The efforts of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States are evident in
this regard. Equally, are the visible positive deliberate efforts
of Presidential Committee on the North-east Initiative (PCNI).
“In addition, there are non-governmental organisations and good
spirited individuals and private organisations contributing to
rebuilding civilian structures and institutions in the
North-east.
“The above notwithstanding, the Nigerian Army has all along been
involved in the restoration and construction of roads and bridges
demolished by the terrorists, to open up transportation routes in
the North-east.
“As laudable as these efforts amongst other quick impact
projects executed by the Nigerian Army and Airforce, even in 2016,
they were not captured in the report. Thus, it is educative for
Nigerians and the general public to be aware of this corporate
social responsibility by the military in the North-east.
“It is worthy to let Nigerians know that, the report highly
commended Nigerian Government of which the Nigerian military is a
part.
“Clearly without ambiguity, it stated ‘the Nigerian Government
actively cooperated with the United States and other international
partners to prevent further acts of terrorism in Nigeria against
U.S citizens, citizens of third world countries, and Nigerian
citizens’.
“From this, therefore, is it possible for the report to
contradict itself? Obviously no. Thus the misinformers deliberately
decided to hide this commendation from Nigerians and the general
public, to cause disaffection for the Nigerian Military among the
populace, which should not be accepted.”
* Defence College report rues military’s deficient
equipment
* Advises local production of weapons
After years of foot-dragging, the US State Department has
finally approved a $593 million sale to Nigeria of A-29 Super
Tucano attack planes with associated parts, training, facilities
and weapons.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered its
certification of the foreign military sale to Congress, as required
by law, on August 2, according to United Press International.
The military equipment sales approval came just as a Nigerian
Defence College report submitted to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo
in July admitted that Boko Haram had made much impact in its
terrorist activities in the North-east because it had superior fire
power.
The report, which was the outcome of a research by the college’s
Course 25, said the Nigerian military had been hampered in its
operations against the terrorists because it lacked the technical
equipment necessary to stand up to Boko Haram.
The college’s report corroborated another report by the US
Bureau of Counter-terrorism, released in July 2017 and reported
exclusively by THISDAY on Monday, that the military lacked the
capacity to hold the grounds conquered by it from Boko Haram due to
tactical and strategic challenges.
Although the military claimed Thursday that the publication and
analyses of the US bureau report were detrimental to national
security, the approval of the sale of military equipment to it must
be good news to its high command.
By the approval, 12 airplanes would be sold to the Nigerian
military.
The 12 A-29s, equipped with wing-mounted machine guns, weapons
integration with advanced surveillance and precision-guided bombs,
and even air-to-air missiles will help Nigeria to combat the Boko
Haram insurgents and other extremist groups, such as the Islamic
State West Africa splinter group.
The equipment will also help Nigeria to counter smuggling and
other forms of trafficking in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.
The DSCA had determined that U.S. security interests would be
served by assisting Nigeria in its counter-insurgency operations
and that the A-29 sale would not significantly alter the military
balance of power in the region.
The contract would require the U.S. Government or private
contractors to provide training and support and would include
instructions on rules of engagement and human rights to help
prevent civilian casualties.
The Embraer A-29 Super Tucano is a turboprop light attack plane
in service with countries across the world. It is designed for
counter-insurgency operations and close-air support in areas
lacking significant air defences. It is also widely used as a
training aircraft.
It is a contender in the U.S. Air Force’s OA-X light attack
aircraft competition for a low-cost and easy to operate and
maintain air support platform.
Light planes like the Tucano can fulfil air support and
surveillance needs in low-risk environments at a much lower
operational cost than heavier jets like the A-10 or F-16 and
require less flight and maintenance training.
The attack planes will be a big boost for Nigeria’s military
anti-terrorism campaign in the North-east of the country.
Past attempts to procure the plane under the Barack Obama
administration were frustrated by accusations of human rights
abuses against Nigeria’s military.
According to Defence Industry Daily, the Super Tucano is known
as the A-29 or ALX in Brazil, but abroad, it’s the EMB 314
successor to Embraer’s widely-used EMB 312 Tucano trainer.
The plane offers better flight performance than the EMB 312
Tucano, plus armouring and wing-mounted machine guns, weapons
integration with advanced surveillance and targeting pods,
precision-guided bombs, and even air-to-air missiles.
This makes it an excellent territorial defence and close support
plane for low-budget air forces, as well as a surveillance asset
with armed attack capability. Brazil uses it this way, for
instance, alongside very advanced EMB-145 airborne radar and
maritime patrol jet platforms.
In Africa, Ghana, Angola, Burkina Faso, Angola, Mauritania,
either have the Tucano in their air forces, or they had placed
orders for new supplies.
Defence College Report Rues Military’s Deficient Equipment
The expected planes would come in handy to redress the pathetic
situation of the military which the Nigerian Defence College report
painted. Entitled: ‘Terrorism and National Security: The Nigerian
Experience’, a strategy and security policy paper presented to the
vice-president by the National Defence College Course 25 in July
2017, it stated that the terrorists were staging a comeback because
the military did not have the adequate and requisite equipment to
stop them.
“Most of the units overran by the Boko Haram terrorists was not
because of the military’s inability to fight, but due to lack of
weapons, ammunition and basic fighting equipment,” the report said,
explaining that most of the units fighting terrorists required
specialised technical equipment to be able to carry out their
assigned tasks.
“The units lack the full complements of equipment needed to
discharge their roles and this hampers the kinetic efforts in the
North-east,” the report emphasised.
To support the assertion that the Nigerian military lacked the
superior firepower to stop Boko Haram, the security document
stated: “In March 2017, about 30 soldiers fighting Boko Haram
terrorists in the North-east revealed details about the mass
killings of their colleagues due to poor firepower and inadequate
equipment to combat the insurgents,” adding that the military had
been in short supply of equipment for effective operations since
2013.
It stated that inadequate firepower had continued to undermine
the efforts of operation ‘Lafiya Dole’ in completely countering the
Boko Haram terrorists.
It narrated: “In April 2017, Boko Haram terrorists invaded the
military barracks in Sabon Garin in Damboa Local Government Area of
Borno State and overwhelmed the troops with superior
firepower.”
To turn the tide of the event, the strategy document advised
that Nigeria should invest in arms and ammunition production
locally. “With most countries in the West dragging their feet to
sell military platforms to Nigeria, there is the need to start
looking inwards to be able to sustain the fight against terrorism
in the long run,” it said.
The report said the inability of the military to garner the
resources needed to produce these platforms locally was a great
obstacle.
The US Bureau of Counter-terrorism report had similar findings
and this was exclusively reported by THISDAY on the day Acting
President Osinbajo condemned penultimate Tuesday’s ambush of the
Chad Basin oil exploration team by the Boko Haram, leading to the
deaths and abduction of members of the ill-fated team.
The US report belied the claim by the federal government that it
was on top of the situation in the North-east.
While directing military chiefs to relocate to the North-east last
week, Osinbajo had said that the government was on top of the
crisis despite the resurgence of terrorists’ attacks in the
troubled region, the most recent of which was the ambush of the
exploration team.
But the report by the US Bureau, which tracks terrorism and
counter terrorism measures across the world, found that Nigeria was
not on top of the situation.
The report stated: “Despite gains made by the Multi-National
Joint Task Force (MNJTF), much of its reported progress was merely
duplication of failed efforts carried over from the end of last
dry/fighting season,” adding: “The Nigerian military was unable to
hold and rebuild civilian structures and institutions in those
areas it had cleared.”
It also faulted the decision of the federal government to return
internally displaced people to their original places of abode,
saying that this was being done without adequate security.
“The Nigerian government continued to facilitate the return of
internally displaced persons to their home communities, although
sometimes without providing adequate security and before
appropriate conditions were in place for safe, informed, voluntary
returns,” it said.
The report also said that Nigeria did not show any evidence that
it would implement a coordinated plan to restore civilian security
in recaptured territories.
Another weakness in Nigeria’s approach to dislodging Boko Haram
as shown by the US report is the lack of coordination among
intelligence gathering agencies.
Analyses of US Report on Boko Haram Detrimental to National
Security, Says DHQ
Three clear days after THISDAY publication of the US Bureau
report, the Nigerian military finally found its voice, claiming
that it was detrimental to national security.
A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen John
Enenche, in Abuja, said the analyses that had followed the THISDAY
report had continued to derail the nation’s counter-insurgency
plans in many ways, adding that they were eroding the confidence of
the public in the military.
Enenche said: “It has been observed by the Defence Headquarters
that Nigerians and the general public are being misinformed on the
‘Country Reports on Terrorism 2016’ released by the United States
of America (USA) Department of State.
“The misinformation cuts across sensational headlines in some
print and electronic media to prejudiced comments and analysis of
the report among others, which are detrimental to Nigeria’s
national security and interest. Therefore, it is instructive to
present the report in the right and objective perspective to
Nigerians.
“Country reports on terrorism are submitted on annual basis in
compliance with Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f
(the ‘Act’) by the Department of State to Congress. It is aimed at
providing a report on those countries and groups that meet the
criteria of the Act. The report used to be published as ‘Patterns
of Global Terrorism’ up till 2003 but was changed to the present
title beginning from 2004.
“Thus, against the contrary picture given to Nigerians and the
general public on the report in question, it did not cover only
Nigeria but covered; Niger, Cameroon and Chad. That is, all the
countries affected by Boko Haram Terrorists menace.”
He explained: “It is necessary to point out that the USA does
not publish this report with the objective of causing restiveness
among the populace, but to draw government’s attention to areas
that could be improved upon to tackle global terrorism.
“Thus, credit must be given to the USA for its strategic global
efforts towards ensuring a more secure world. As such, Nigeria and
the general public should not believe the misinformants whose
intentions are to pit the Nigerian Military negatively against the
USA.
“At this point, it is necessary to let Nigerians and the general
public know that the USA and other international partners have been
supporting the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the fight against
insurgency and terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin region.
“The report is not being objectively analysed by the
misinformers because of their ulterior motive. Thus, it behoves the
Defence Headquarters to clarify the particular sentence that was
capitalised upon, which is ‘The Nigerian Military was unable to
hold and rebuild civilian Structures and Institutions in those
areas it had cleared’. The simple and objective interpretation is
as follows:
“The report was for 2016 and not January to July 2017. Hence,
attributing the assertion to be current is rather wicked and should
be disregarded.
“To clear an area in this context is a military task while to
hold is the task of para-military and other security agencies.”
Enenche said: “After the decimation of the terrorist strongholds
in the North-east, other security agencies such as the Nigeria
Police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps have been taking
hold of areas cleared by the military. That is why Adamawa and Yobe
States have virtually little incidents of terrorist acts in the
recent past.
“Furthermore, the rebuilding of civilian structures and
institutions is not a military task. It is purely the
responsibility of the government of which a lot is being done.
“The efforts of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States are evident in
this regard. Equally, are the visible positive deliberate efforts
of Presidential Committee on the North-east Initiative (PCNI).
“In addition, there are non-governmental organisations and good
spirited individuals and private organisations contributing to
rebuilding civilian structures and institutions in the
North-east.
“The above notwithstanding, the Nigerian Army has all along been
involved in the restoration and construction of roads and bridges
demolished by the terrorists, to open up transportation routes in
the North-east.
“As laudable as these efforts amongst other quick impact
projects executed by the Nigerian Army and Airforce, even in 2016,
they were not captured in the report. Thus, it is educative for
Nigerians and the general public to be aware of this corporate
social responsibility by the military in the North-east.
“It is worthy to let Nigerians know that, the report highly
commended Nigerian Government of which the Nigerian military is a
part.
“Clearly without ambiguity, it stated ‘the Nigerian Government
actively cooperated with the United States and other international
partners to prevent further acts of terrorism in Nigeria against
U.S citizens, citizens of third world countries, and Nigerian
citizens’.
“From this, therefore, is it possible for the report to
contradict itself? Obviously no. Thus the misinformers deliberately
decided to hide this commendation from Nigerians and the general
public, to cause disaffection for the Nigerian Military among the
populace, which should not be accepted.”
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/us-approves-super-tucano-attack-planes-for-nigeria/