Defence minister advocates improved military cooperation

Minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali has called for a greater military cooperation between Nigeria and Sudan particularly in the area of procurement and production of military hardware.

In a statement issued by the Minister’s Public Relations Officer, Col. Tukur Gusau, Dan-Ali made the call at the end of his 3-day official visit to the Republic of Sudan.

According to the statement, the minister made the call while paying a courtesy call to his Sudanese counterpart Gen Ahmad Ibn Auf at Ministry of National Defence in Khartoum.

The Minister also thanked the Sudanese authorities for the warm reception and host to the Nigerian contingent operating in the Darfur region.

He said Nigeria and Sudan would soon sign a memorandum of understanding to enhance better military cooperation between the Armed Forces Nigeria and their Sudanese counterpart.

According to the statement, the minister had undertaken a tour of the Military Industrial Corporation of Sudan by the Vice President of the corporation Lt Gen Omar Albded, all in a bid to enhance existing military cooperation between both countries.

It said the minister had paid a similar visit to the Sur international company a specialist in production of military equipment.

“The minister and his delegation were also flown to Yarmouk industrial corporation at Elhusahisa town to inspect another military hardware manufacturing company with a view of partnering with them for the take up of Nigeria Military industrial complex,’’ the statement added.

The statement added that minister also visited Super camp in Nyala Darfur region to interact with troops of NIBATT 46 currently under United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) with a call on them to respect laws of the land and avoid human right controversies.

Nigeria through the Ministry of Defence has in recent times initiated measures aimed at improving military relations with countries in Africa and beyond.