Insecurity: NEDC to Repair Infrastructure as DICON Plans Mass Production of MRAPS Vehicles
The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has assured the Nigerian Army (NA) of its desire and unwavering commitment to repairing the collapsed roads and other critical infrastructure destroyed as a result of insurgency in North-East.
Its Chairman, Maj. Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd), gave the assurance while hosting the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and other principal officers of the Army, who paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s office in Abuja.
According to Gen. Tarfa, the leadership of the Army has done a lot in terms of rehabilitating and constructing important infrastructure and other basic amenities that were totally destroyed by Boko Haram terrorists, in the last ten years.
While welcoming the COAS, and his delegation, the NEDC Chairman, said his commission will support and offer necessary assistance to officers and men of the Army, in a bid to ensure that they effectively prosecute the war against insurgency.
“The Nigerian Military, especially the Army, is one of our strategic partners in the North-East.
“Indeed, we appreciate the good work the Army is doing in terms of rehabilitating several obsolete amenities and damaged infrastructural facilities.
“It is heartwarming that most of the facilities and buildings, have been rebuilt and new ones constructed by the Army, at several destroyed communities.
“These kind gestures done by the Army leadership, have tremendously assisted the traumatized people of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and other parts of the North-East.
“Once again, we sincerely appreciate what you and your team are doing. And we want to assure you that we will partner you, and assist you in diverse ways,” he said.
Earlier in his remark, Lt. Gen. Buratai, said their visit to the Commission is the beginning of good, robust and beneficial relationship between the Army and NEDC.
He noted that both the Commission and the Army have, and are pursuing common national interests and goals, hence their is need for a robust partnership in order to actualize set objectives.
The COAS, who described members of the recently-established Commission as men of impeccable integrity and exceptional administrative pedigree, disclosed that the collapse of several infrastructure in the North-East is impacting negatively on the Army’s operations.
He said: “There are several infrastructure that have been damaged beyond repair in the North-East as a result of Boko Haram insurgency.
“On the other hand, several of our military barracks are also dilapidated, and urgently require speedy renovations works to be done on them.
“As such, the Commission should strive and look into the problem of collapsed infrastructure in the North-East, especially roads.
“There is need for fundamental steps to be taken to repair the collapsed roads, and other facilities, so as to assist troops prosecute the counter-insurgency war, and also decimate the terrorists.”
Similarly, the Nigerian Army has signed an agreement with the Defence Industry Corporation (DICON) of Nigeria, and Command Engineering Depot (CED), to mass produce about 28 Mines Resistant Anti-ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles, named Ezugwu MRAP.
The agreement was signed at the Army Headquarters, by the NA’s Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Lieutenant General Lamidi Adeosun, who represented the COAS at the event.
The first ten MRAPs to be manufactured by both DICON and CED will be delivered to the Nigerian Army in the first week of December 2019.
By PRNigeria
