FG to Procure Additional Fighter Helicopters from Russia, Says Presidency

The presidency has said Nigeria will procure weapons including
fighter helicopters from Russia to enhance the Nigeria’s ongoing
fight against insurgency, banditry and violence crimes.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and
Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, made this known when he fielded
questions from State House correspondents in Abuja yesterday.

The presidential aide, who is on President Muhammadu Buhari’s
entourage to Sochi, Russia, said the Nigerian leader would hold
security talks with President Vladimir Putin at the sideline of the
Russia-Nigeria Summit, fixed for between October 23 and October
25.

According to Shehu, during the talks, the two leaders will
discuss arms and weapon procurement to assist Nigeria towards
ending the insurgency, particularly the Boko Haram activities in
North-east region of the country.

“Russia has been doing a lot to support our military, although
I’m not suggesting that we have engaged them as fully as we should
have.

“I think that this visit presents a unique opportunity for our
two presidents to sit down and discuss particularly weapon
procurement including of course helicopters which Russians can
supply and would be useful to Nigeria towards ending the insurgency
particularly in the north eastern part of the country.

“So, I believe that arms procurement to which the Russians are
favourably disposed will form a big part of this conversation,’’ he
explained.

Shehu further disclosed that the details of the procurement
exercise would be made available in due course.

The presidential media aide recalled that the previous attempts
by Nigeria to procure similar weapons from Russia were frustrated
by the sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States of
America.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Buhari has since
departed Nigeria for Sochi to participate in the summit, which will
focus on exploring and expanding opportunities in security, trade
and investment, science and technology as well as gas production.
Those on the president’s entourage included governors Muhammad
Yahaya of Gombe, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara and Kayode Fayemi of
Ekiti State.

Others also on the trip are ministers of Foreign Affairs,
Geoffrey Onyeama; Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; Mines and
Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, and Minister of State for
Petroleum, Timipre Sylva.

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