Insurgency: Defence minister urges US to expedite fighter jets delivery

Defence Minister Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd.) has pleaded with the United States of America to fast-track the release of the Super Tucano Aircraft procured by the Federal Government to boost military operations.

Magashi spoke when the Secretary of US Air Force, Barbara Barrett, led a five-man delegation to the Ministry of Defence in Abuja on Wednesday.

Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Publicity, Mohammad Abdulkadri, announced this in a statement.

The minister said the quick delivery of the aircraft would help the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to demystify the criminal elements in their various hideouts in the forests.

He also said the Nigeria Defence Space Administration would be equipped technologically through a partnership with the U.S Space Force to enhance its capabilities to fight insecurity in the country.

He said efficient and effective space management was germane to the successful operations of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies in the effort to defeat insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.

Magashi said Nigeria would continue to strengthen military cooperation with the US in the areas of shared interests, such as training, exchange programmes and procurement of weapons, in the nation’s bid to overcome security challenges.

Barrett said Nigeria was a destination of choice in Africa for partnership in harnessing space assets through the instrumentality of science and technology in national defence.

She added that the already established military cooperation between Nigeria and US would be taken to the next level to promote peace and tranquility in the country.