Nigerian Military Expecting More Equipment, SIPRI Confirms
The Sweden based group revealed some of the equipment the Nigerian Military has received and those it is awaiting from suppliers.
Arms transfer database published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), has revealed some of the equipment the Nigerian military has received and those it is awaiting.
The Nigerian Military is battling armed groups in multiple conflict theatres across the country, particularly in the Northeast, Northwest, and South-South regions, where terror, militant and criminal groups operate.
According to the Sweden-based research institute’s arms transfer for 2021, the Nigerian military has received or will receive, eight units of Phantom-II, six VT-4 tanks, two SH-5 105mm and three SH-2 122mm Self-propelled guns.
Other hardware mentioned include KLTV-181 military tactical-utility vehicle, three JF-17 Thunder, 12 EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft, six units of ZTL-09, 12 MI-35M gunships, six A109k, two CH-3, four CH-4 and two wing long unmanned aerial vehicles.
A number of the systems listed in the arms database has already been deployed in the ongoing operation codenamed Tura Takai Bango, a subsidiary of the Counter Insurgency (COIN) Operation Lafiya Dole.
HumAngle understands that a number of these equipment like KLTV and Phantom II have already been captured or destroyed by insurgents in the Northeast.
The SIPRI list showed that recent defence procurement was significantly focused on acquisition of air assets. However, the list may not necessarily be a reflection of entire defence procurement in recent times due to the opaque nature of some Nigerian military deals.
The report also had Naval acquisitions such LST-100 landing ship, FCS-3307, FPB-110 and FPB-72 patrol crafts
More details of Nigeria’s recent arms procurement could be tracked through the research institute site.
The organisation in a publication on trends in International Arms Transfers said on Monday sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 26 per cent of total African arms imports in 2016–20, compared with 41 per cent in 2011–15.
The report stated that armed conflict in the Sahel coincided with increased arms imports by Burkina Faso and Mali both members of the G-5 Sahel Joint Force
“Several major powers are using arms supplies as a foreign policy tool to increase their influence in sub-Saharan Africa,” said SIPRI.
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