Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, says the Nigerian Army (NA) will further explore the cordial bilateral relations between the NA and Russian government for the acquisition of military equipment to enhance its operations across the country.
According to a statement on Thursday, the COAS disclosed this when the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Alexey Shebarshin paid him a courtesy call at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
Reminiscing the long existing relationship between the Nigerian Army and Russia, the COAS expressed the need to rekindle the relationship for their mutual benefit.
Lieut Yahaya also solicited the support of the Russian government in the provision of sophisticated equipment to shore up NA’s combat efficiency in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and other sundry crimes orchestrating insecurity in some parts of the country.
He assured the Ambassador of NA’s determination in sustaining the cooperation.
On his part, the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria lauded the contributions of the Nigerian Army in the stability of the continent and described Nigeria as critical on the African continent in terms of military capability, trade and investment.
He indicated an interest in supporting the Nigerian Army through the provision of equipment and technical assistance.
Ambassador Alexey also affirmed the significance of the NA Aviation Unit in the enhancement of its operations in the fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other crimes.
