The United Kingdom Government has donated a Counter Insurgency (COIN) training facility to the Nigerian Armed Forces, to help enhance the reality of their training and better prepare the force for its future operations.
Penpushing reports that the handover ceremony took place on Tuesday while the training facility was officially opened today in Ogun State and had in attendance Major General SG Mohammed representing Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
The British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, and Brigadier Martin Leach from the United Kingdom (UK’s) Ministry of Defence were also in attendance, while information has it that the training facility was funded by the United Kingdom through its Ministry of Defence.
Penpushing further reports that the facility was built by a team of Royal Engineers from the British Army working alongside Nigerian Army Engineers, and the facility will make training more realistic for the soldiers and help prepare trainees to operate effectively during deployments.
The Deputy High Commissioner was briefed on the training display, which saw firsthand a demonstration operation conducted by Nigerian Armed Forces as he explained that the United Kingdom has deep interests in Nigeria’s development, security, and stability, adding that his country enjoys a long-standing security and defence relationship
‘The UK has deep interests in Nigeria’s development, security, and stability. We enjoy a long-standing security and defence relationship, underpinned by a shared desire to support regional and international peace and security. Our work with the Nigeria Armed Forces seeks to build capacity to address the root causes of insurgency and insecurity and support institutional modernisation and transformation’, Baxter said.
“We provide substantial security and development support to Nigeria including capacity building assistance, training facilities and equipment. The British Government will continue to work with Nigeria to respond to the drivers of conflict – and all these engagements we hope, will lead to better security, stability, and enhanced growth partnerships for the good of both our countries’, he added
Penpushing also reports that the Deputy High Commissioner at the ceremony paid tribute to the significant sacrifices made by the Nigerian soldiers in working with their counterparts to bring peace and security to the region.
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