The President Muhammadu Buhari regime will discuss the purchase of lethal weapons to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency with the Russian government during the Russia-Africa Summit this week.
Russia is seen by Americans as having a reputation for supporting rogue nations, especially countries with poor human rights records.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated this on Monday in Abuja.
Shehu said President Buhari would hold security talks with President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit, holding between October 23 and 25.
He said, “Russia has been doing a lot to support our military, although I am not suggesting that we have engaged them as fully as we should.
“I think this visit presents a unique opportunity for the two presidents to sit down and discuss weapon procurement, including, of course, helicopters, which Russians can supply and would be useful to
Nigeria towards ending the insurgency.
“So, I believe that arms procurement, to which the Russians are favourably disposed, will form a big part of this conversation.”
Meanwhile, the United States Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (US-DOE/NNSA/NSDD) has donated two Mobile Radiation Detection Systems to Nigeria for the fight against terrorism.
The Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Maikudi Shehu, disclosed this yesterday during a
one-week training and unveiling of the radiation systems in Lagos.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training had 10 EOD and Chemical, Biological, Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) police officers in attendance.
The CP said the training came at the right time in efforts to curtail terrorism and other security threats in the country.
He said, “The menace of insecurity calls for a new approach that will be founded on credible intelligence gathering, acquisition of modern technology, capacity building, and inter-agency collaboration.”
“Therefore, I urge all participants to ensure effective use of this equipment and utilise the knowledge that will be acquired from this important training to enhance our national nuclear security.”