The Russian Federation has offered advanced weaponry, operational support, and strategic expertise to strengthen Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations.
It also expressed a firm commitment to deepen military collaboration with Nigeria in its ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, the PUNCH reported on Monday, April 28
Russian Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Andrei Averianov conveyed this commitment during a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, in a statement released on Monday said it was revealed that Lt Gen Averianov praised Nigeria as a key power in the West African sub-region and a valued partner in global security efforts.
Highlighting Russia’s extensive experience from its ongoing engagements against 39 opposing nations, Averianov stated that new counterterrorism strategies developed during these operations would be shared with Nigeria to help enhance its national security.
“It is a historic day for the Russian Federation,” Averianov said, noting that although Russia’s fight against Nazism ended 80 years ago, today’s security threats have evolved into complex, asymmetric challenges such as terrorism fueled by groups like Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda. He emphasized Russia’s eagerness to contribute to creating a safer future for Nigeria and beyond.
The Russian envoy further affirmed Moscow’s willingness to supply Nigeria with a full range of military equipment needed to advance its counterterrorism missions. He also expressed readiness to provide technical support and specialized training to Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
Responding, General Musa welcomed the Russian delegation on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian Armed Forces, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation between both nations. He noted the longstanding ties between Nigeria and Russia and highlighted the necessity for expanded partnerships in special operations training, intelligence sharing, and maintenance of military equipment.
General Musa pointed out that Nigeria’s military, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force, would benefit greatly from enhanced training programs, the supply of special boats, fast-attack crafts, amphibious capabilities, and improved maintenance support for Russian-made military platforms, many of which are currently non-operational due to lack of spare parts.
The Chief of Defence Staff also requested Russia’s assistance in facilitating the repair of unserviceable equipment, either by deploying technical experts to Nigeria or arranging for repairs to be conducted in Russia.
In closing, General Musa thanked the Russian Federation for its ongoing support, particularly acknowledging the direct delivery of military equipment and the dispatch of experts to aid in equipment testing, reaffirming Russia’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
