The desire to develop both light and heavy combat vehicles that will meet current operational and tactical demands in the counter-terrorism and counter insurgency operations, as well as future needs, informed the establishment of the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai has said.
Speaking at the inauguration of the company on Saturday at Rigachuku, Kaduna state, the army chief said Nigerian Army had suffered some limited setbacks in the ongoing counter insurgency operations in the North east “partly due to the ineffectiveness of some Armoured Fighting Vehicles and other light skin vehicles imported from overseas.”
“The major areas of concern include the inadequate spare parts, faulty weapon systems, poor after sales maintenance agreement and lack of warranty among others,” he said.
“Also, the cost of acquiring these military hardware and vehicles runs into hundreds and millions of foreign exchange. Similarly, most of these imported equipment do not meet the tropical weather conditions in our clime.”
Buratai said that for Nigerian Army to overcome internal and external asymmetric security challenges bedeviling the country in recent times, there is an urgent need “to begin a 360 degrees’ deviation from over reliance on importation of all classes of tactical and heavy operational vehicles to indigenous production of mobility war machinery.”
“Although efforts have been made to achieve this policy shift by previous political and military leadership, the fact remains that a lot still needs to be done to record an appreciable level of self-reliance in production of instrument of war.”
The army chief said that the unprecedented achievement recorded by the Nigerian Army last year also gave him the hope that the army would succeed in manufacturing its own vehicles to meet its desired combat needs.
At the passing out Parade of the 77 Regular Recruits Intake in Depot, Zaria, Kaduna state, in October 2018, the Commandant, Maj Gen. Victor Ezugwu, unveiled five light tactical patrol vehicles produced by the Recruits under the Military Skill Acquisition Training.
Also. during the event, 17 troops carrying vehicles and other hitherto unserviceable and old vehicles that were re-configured and reconstructed by civilians and Depot technicians were unveiled and inaugurated by the COAS who was the special guest of honour.
A month after the event, the Nigerian Army high command established the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company and appointed Maj. Gen. Ezeugwu the pioneer Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer.
Ezeugwu had also served as Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division in Maiduguri, Borno state, the epic center of the fight against Boko Haran terrorists. He is believed to have rich experience about the challenges militating against the military campaign, especially on troops’ mobility and protection.
“Suffice to state that the result of the professional commitment, incisive maintenance culture, diligent management of resources as well as passion for service above personal and group interest by staff, soldiers and recruits of Depot Nigerian Army prompted me to establish the NAVMC,” Buratai said.
He said that the company has met his mandate within six months of its establishment by refurbishing 35 Toyota Buffalo Vehicles, Eight Armored Fighting Vehicles, 10 assorted heavy duty generators, 10 troops carrying vehicles, water tankers and mobile workshops. He said vehicles will be deployed to support the ongoing operations in the North east and other parts of the country.
“Perhaps the most outstanding achievement of the NAVMC is the design of a light, medium and heavy category of Nigerian Army Combat Vehicles (NAC-V),” Buratai said.
The prototypes of the vehicles were later unveiled, while the COAS said the production of two samples of light NAC-V would commence afterwards.
Earlier in his remarks, Ezegwu said that the company’s objective is to put Nigeria in the spheres of global competitive automobile industry and create platforms that will meet the need of Nigerian Army, while meeting global standard. He added that the company would leverage on indigenous technology and the use of local content.
Ezegwu said that the company has employed seven consultants and 80 artisans at the vehicle plant, and has produced 50 light combat vehicles within short period of its establishment.
He said in order to promote indigenous contractors and local content policy of the Federal Government, the company would partner ASD Motors Nigerian Limited, Peugeot Automobile Kaduna, Machine Tool Company Osogbo, Osun State, and Innoson Motors (IVM) in the areas of training of personnel and manufacturing of parts.
Two weeks ago, the army chief led a delegation of senior officers, including the MD/CEO of NAVMC, to KIA Military Vehicle Assembly Plant in Seoul, South Korea, where they concluded a partnership agreement with KIA military motors to support the NAVMC in the areas of transfer of technology, supply of engines and similar accessories and training of NAVMC technicians.
“The overall objectives are to ensure that NAVMC meet the Nigerian Army vehicle requirement by 2025 and begin export of its products to other African Countries by 2030,” Buratai said.
