While French, Chad and other forces chase
terrorists out of Mali, Nigeria is yet to send 20
per cent of its pledge.

The deployment of Nigerian soldiers as part of the
Africa-led International Support Mission to Mali
(AFISMA) is turning out to be a complete charade as army authorities and the Ministry of Defence are
having a hard time coping with basic logistics such
as provision of the right uniforms, food, and proper
transportation for troops, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Morale is said to be at the lowest ebb among the first batch of 160 soldiers led by Colonel Gagariga already in Mali as they have resorted to skipping meals as their food provisions run out, military insiders have told this newspaper.

Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan said the
Federal Government has spent $34 million (N5.1
billion) on the deployment of 1200 troops to the
troubled West African country and pledged a further $5 million (N750 million) in assistance.
But three weeks after the first batch of 160 soldiers
was sent to the Malian capital, Bamako, the army is
having a difficult time getting the remaining troops
combat ready.

Discontent is rapidly growing among the troops whobelieve that some highly placed individuals in the army are siphoning logistics supports and provisions meant for them, defence sources told PREMIUM TIMES.

The Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre (NAPKC)
led by Major General, J.S Zaruwa could not provide
fatigues and proper transportation for troops, our
sources said.

Plagued by inadequate logistical support and
managerial inefficiency, 800 soldiers from the 81
battalion in Ibadan and 280 from the 333 Artillery
Regiment, after completing preliminary training for
the Malian mission, have been rendered redundant at the NAPKC in Kachia, Kaduna.
“We are just at the NAPKC doing nothing,” a troop
member said.

Even as French troops and soldiers from Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso enter Kidal, the last known
stronghold of the Al Qaeda-linked Islamists, neither
the army authorities nor the Ministry of Defence
know when the bulk of Nigerian soldiers will be in
Mali.

The new army spokesperson, Brigadier Ibrahim
Atahiru, said in a telephone interview that “they will be deployed very soon.”

Director for Defence Information, Brigadier General
Mohammed Yerima, who refused to speak about the
training and readiness of troops, said the ministry
only becomes responsible for the soldiers after they
(soldiers) have been handed over for deployment.
“At present there are 162 soldiers in Mali. We will
deploy more as soon as they are handed over to us,” he said.

This contradicts reports by some newspapers (not
PREMIUM TIMES) credited to an officer in the office of the Director for Defence Information, Wabi
Mohammed, that 768 troops have been deployed to
Mali.

#Putting Soldiers in harm’s way#
In the early hours of January 19, a convoy of Mali-bound soldiers on its way to Kaduna for pre-deployment training was ambushed allegedly by a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan (JAMBS) in Okene, Kogi State. Two soldiers lost their lives and five others
were seriously injured. They were unnecessary casualties.

The lives of the soldiers would have been saved if the army had been faithful to the original plan of
conveying the soldiers by air, officials said.
Another defence source, who asked not to be named, suggested that some army top brass cornered the funds provided to airlift the soldiers.
“The boys are being moved by vehicle from Ibadan to Kaduna for training against the flight proposals made for them,” the source said.

Our source also said that the NAPKC, which is in
charge of getting the troops ready for the mission,
has refused to provide uniforms meant to be used
during training and no explanation has been given
for this.

According to our source, there is widespread
discontent among the troops stationed at NAPKC as a result of neglect and inadequate provisions.
“The boys back home are not very happy as they are not adequately taken care of at the NAPKC,” he said.

PREMIUM TIMES further learnt that there are plans tomove the soldiers for further “mission specific
training” in Sokoto. The training is expected to last
for six weeks. But our source said the army is just buying time until logistics becomes available.

“There is a little confusion among the top brass. We
have only 157 already in Mali but due to logistics
requirement they are trying to delay others by way oftraining,” he said.

#Starving troops#
Not sure when the next round of supplies will be
provided, a top brass in the military reportedly told
the 160 soldiers already in Mali that they have to
make do with the supplies they have for three
months instead of the one month it was originally
planned to last.

The company has now resorted to skipping meals in
order not to completely run out of provisions. The
draught of provision has been worsened by the fact
that the army has only earmarked one C-130 NAF
plane to convey both men and provision to Mali.

“Food is a problem in Mali. They intended for one
month but they ask them to use it for 3 months so
they eat just two imbalanced meals a day,” our
source said. “They are suffering and their morale is
low somehow.”

Last week, pictures of Nigerian soldiers clearing a
space with cutlasses to cook in the open air were
posted on social media. PREMIUM TIMES cannot
confirm the authenticity of the pictures. However, Mr. Yerima said the soldiers are expected to prepare their own food themselves.
“Do you want them to be poisoned?” he asked. “So
you want them to go and eat in a restaurant and be
poisoned.”

Mr. Yerima also denied that the soldiers in Mali are
not taken care of. “That’s not true. Don’t cheapen your organisation.
They have moved to their new location and they are
doing perfectly well. They have moved about 150
kilometres away from Bamako towards Gao. They are now engaged in actual combat,” he said.

#An over stretched army#
According to our defence sources, it is almost
impossible for the army to meet its pledge of 1200
troops to Mali.

The Boko Haram insurgency, the unrest in the Niger
Delta and the country’s commitment to the African
Union mission in Darfur, Sudan, have over-stretched the Nigerian Army, they said.

“We are just pretending to the international
community,” one of our sources, a top officer said.
“We don’t have the capability in view of our
commitments back home.

This is absolutely embarassing, plus it's a recipe for mutiny.
When are these 'big men' going to stop this unrelenting assault on the image of this country??
Rot everywhere.

Oops. Here: premiumtimesng.com/news/118844-nigeria-falters-in-troops-deployment-to-mali-as-food-shortage-poor-logistics-hamper-operation.html

GEJ is working!

Sick nation

ceaz4r: Sick nation

Indeed. I remember how we celebrated on Nairaland after seeing the pictures of Mali bound Nigerian troops.
What we read now only confirms what the US state department once said, that Naija troops can only but man check points. This is realy heartbreaking.
We seem have a knack for bungling every opurtunity to shore up our reliability in the eyes of the international community.
God bless Nigeria.

[b]supplement ....


Meeting and Greeting the Crusaders in Africa



lack Agenda Radio commentary by BAR executive editor Glen Ford

Europeans are pouring into northwest Africa in such volume, the huge U.S. airlift capacity may soon be necessary to keep the “Crusaders” supplied. African militaries are being assembled to do the white man’s bidding. The U.S. hopes to establish a Somalia-like operation on the near side of Africa – with Americans in overall charge.



Meeting and Greeting the Crusaders in Africa

A Black Agenda Radio commentary by BAR executive editor Glen Ford

“African officials were handing out orders and directives to other Africans, as if they were actually in charge of something.”

These days the so-called scramble for Africa runs through Mali, and in two directions. As the British, the Italians, the Germans, the Spanish, the Dutch, the Belgians and the Danish follow the French into northwest Africa, the Africans rush up to meet them, as if these white people were old friends coming to visit, again. Cargo planes ferry French fighters and equipment into the Mali desert, where they search for jihadists – Muslim fighters that are politically indistinguishable from the ones the Europeans and the Americans backed in Libya, and are now arming, in Syria.

If the Mali operation takes much longer – which it certainly will – the United States will assume much of the airlift duties, since no other nation in the world has the capacity to resupply a long war on the African continent. Cracking northern Africa wide open is a job for a superpower – which is fine with the Americans. Don Yamamoto, the deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs, was hanging around the African Union meeting in Ethiopia, where African officials were handing out orders and directives to other Africans, as if they were actually in charge of something. Yamamoto predicted that “it could take several years” for the Mali mission to completed. “This is only the first phase,” he said. So, what is that mission? Will it take the combined forces of the United States, France, much of the rest of NATO, and of soldiers from all over Africa to defeat, at most, a few thousand jihadists in a treeless desert? Do the Europeans and the Americans really have to stay so long?

Oh yes, said deputy secretary Yamamoto. He claims, “A lot of the rebel groups that are now fighting in the region were under Gaddafi’s troops.” Ah, so that’s how the U.S. will tell the story.

“The U.S. has much bigger plans for Africa.”

It’s true that many Tuareg nationalists seeking independence for their homeland in northern Mali worked with Gaddafi’s security forces, and emerged from Libya heavily armed. But, no sooner had the secular Tuareg rebellion begun than it was overwhelmed by Muslim fundamentalists – jihadists who were Gaddafi’s sworn enemies. The jihadists, many of them foreigners, could be run out of the cities of Mali and militarily contained with little effort. But, the Tuaregs live there, and always have. It is, therefore, necessary for the United States to claim that the entire Tuareg people – several million of them – are infested with jihadism, and that this will require a long-term Euro-American presence in Mali and the region.

The French are leading the charge into the desert in Mali, but the U.S. has much bigger plans for Africa. Deputy secretary Yamamoto told reporters that the U.S. would like to see the Mali operation evolve into an African-led affair, like the African Union mission in Somalia. However, although 17,000 Africans do the fighting in Somali, the operation is actually run by the U.S. military and the CIA, and paid for largely by the Americans.

AFRICOM is now assisting six of Mali’s regional neighbors – Niger, Chad, Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo – with their transport and equipment needs for the fighting ahead. Those countries militaries will always want American guns and financing – which means AFRICOM will never leave. At least, that’s the plan.

For Black Agenda Radio, I’m Glen Ford. On the web, go to BlackAgendaReport.com.

BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com.[/b]

Tafida - African Troops Will Safeguard Mali After France's Exit
4 February 2013 , By Ejiofor Alike, Source: This Day
Nigeria's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida has dispelled fears that Islamic militants who are being dislodged from Mali by an international military coalition, would return after the exit of French troops that spearheaded the attacks on the insurgents.

He told Arise News Sunday that African troops would be able to secure Mali after the French troops' departure.

"They will. We have done that before. We have done that in Sierra Leone; we have done that in Liberia and we have done that in other parts of the world. We will do it once we have the resources," he added.

The French troops have secured Kidal, the last town occupied by the militants.

Tafida said that although the French have led the mission, about 2,000 African troops were already in Mali to boost the offensive and more are expected in the weeks ahead.

"A larger African-led force is also being expected to contribute more than 800 troops from various countries," he added.

Tafida also said the Federal Government had spent over $32 million for the maintenance of troops and other peacekeeping efforts in Mali.

"The country has also spent $2 million for the provision of certain amenities in the war-torn country, while an additional $7 million was being spent on other activities to restore normalcy in the crisis-torn Sahelian nation," he said.

Tafida stated that the Federal Government had sent 1,200 troops to Mali, with 900 of those troops from the Nigerian Army, while 300 were from the Air Force.

When asked if it was not disconcerting that after the militants had operated for eight months, Africans had waited for the intervention of French troops to dislodge the militants, Tafida said: "It is but not quite disconcerting because Africans are not yet to be fully developed. We are still developing in that part of the continent.

"In Nigeria, we have done very well and may be, it is the ability to mobilise in a short time that was the problem."

He pledged Nigeria would continue to take the lead in the ongoing peacekeeping efforts.

"We are already taking the lead. The president, through the Senate, has already approved the deployment of 1,200 troops and they are actually in Mali. They are just getting acclimatised towards getting proper directive," he said.

Answering questions on why the recent African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa could only raise $50 million towards the peace keeping process in Mali, while the Europeans held a conference and raised $400 million, Tafida noted that African countries were not that rich.

"We never said that Africa is rich. It is rich but not fully rich. We have resources not fully exploited. In any case, Nigeria has gone in fully. They have their military deployed there. Nine hundred of them are soldiers; 300 are from the air force.

"The Federal Government is spending more than $32 million on them. They also spent $2 million for the provision of certain amenities in Mali. They are also spending $7 million, which have been given by the president," he explained.

omenka:

Indeed. I remember how we celebrated on Nairaland after seeing the pictures of Mali bound Nigerian troops.
What we read now only confirms what the US state department once said, that Naija troops can only but man check points. This is realy heartbreaking.
We seem have a knack for bungling every opurtunity to shore up our reliability in the eyes of the international community.
God bless Nigeria.

Don't be silly. Stop talking like a poorly bred child. There are currently 1200 troops in mali, including 300 air force special forces. 4 alpha jets have been deployed to naimey in niger republic, 2 MI-35p attack helicopters, 1 C-130 stretch transport plane and 1 G222 medium transport plane. Nigerian troops are in high morale and are currently based in banamba mali. NTA defence correspondent in mali mohammed abdulkadri showed all nigerians images of nigerian troops in mali and nigerian fighter planes and attack helicopters in mali. Don't always jump in to castigate your country. Even france that is a major military power had to beg america and britain for transport planes.

Britain provided 2 C-17 transport planes
USA provided 2 C-17, 1 C130, air refuelling tankers and predator drones
Belgium had to help france out with medevac helicopters
Canada provided 1 C-17
Qatar has also provided 2 C-17

Henry120:

Don't be silly. Stop talking like a poorly bred child. There are currently 1200 troops in mali, including 300 air force special forces. 4 alpha jets have been deployed to naimey in niger republic, 2 MI-35p attack helicopters, 1 C-130 stretch transport plane and 1 G222 medium transport plane. Nigerian troops are in high morale and are currently based in banamba mali. NTA defence correspondent in mali mohammed abdulkadri showed all nigerians images of nigerian troops in mali and nigerian fighter planes and attack helicopters in mali. Don't always jump in to castigate your country. Even france that is a major military power had to beg america and britain for transport planes.

Britain provided 2 C-17 transport planes
USA provided 2 C-17, 1 C130, air refuelling tankers and predator drones
Belgium had to help france out with medevac helicopters
Canada provided 1 C-17
Qatar has also provided 2 C-17

Where are all this images? Imagine, NTA!!??
Smh.

Nigerian troops conduct patrols in mali

As you can see nigerian troops have since began patrols in mali.

Nigerian fighter pilots prepare to board the fighter jets and head to mali

I have provided pictures of nigerian airforce stretch C-130 Hercules transport plane in mali. These planes have transported troops and nigerian APC's , logistics.

I have also shown you a picture of nigerian fighter pilots preparing to board they fighter jets for a mission in mali

I have also provided pictures of nigerian troops conducting patrols in northern mali.

FINE BOYS

Henry120:

Don't be silly. Stop talking like a poorly bred child. There are currently 1200 troops in mali, including 300 air force special forces. 4 alpha jets have been deployed to naimey in niger republic, 2 MI-35p attack helicopters, 1 C-130 stretch transport plane and 1 G222 medium transport plane. Nigerian troops are in high morale and are currently based in banamba mali. NTA defence correspondent in mali mohammed abdulkadri showed all nigerians images of nigerian troops in mali

Bros you read all this story u no still understand.
Yes, even market woman no that nigeria send 1200 solders, But how many are on ground in mali.

IMO, they should just leave the rest, since france,mali,chadian and niger army had chase the terrorist out of mali

Director for Defence Information, Brigadier General
Mohammed Yerima, who refused to speak about the
training and readiness of troops, said the ministry
only becomes responsible for the soldiers after they
(soldiers) have been handed over for deployment.
“At present there are 162 soldiers in Mali. We will
deploy more as soon as they are handed over to us,” he said.

fkaz:

Bros you read all this story u no still understand.
Yes, even market woman no that nigeria send 1200 solders, But how many are on ground in mali.

IMO, they should just leave the rest, since france,mali,chadian and niger army had chase the terrorist out of mali

Bros, na wa for u oo. Why did u waste ur time responding to such garbage? And to think that his source of credible info is 'NTA'. Smh. When u fight with a mad man, everyone would assume you are a mad man as well.
I saw his post but chosed to ignore.

So?

Hahaha funny war. France waiting for African led mission to take over in April. Hahaha, Oga eme ha vum nanya.

Truth is nobody really wants to fight this war, everybody dey rack sense. Money no dey, nations are trying to conserve what they have.

@Fkaz, that na why I provide pictures to buttress my point. Abi you blind? You wan see all the 1200 troops before you believe.

The most important thing is, I have provided images to show that nigerian troops have since began patrols, picture still shows our fighter jet, and our C-130 Hercules plane. E dey left to you to believe wetin you wan believe.

omenka:

Bros, na wa for u oo. Why did u waste ur time responding to such garbage? And to think that his source of credible info is 'NTA'. Smh. When u fight with a mad man, everyone would assume you are a mad man as well.
I saw his post but chosed to ignore.

Omenka you are such a foo.l. I swear. You did not see the pictures I up loaded above abi. Ode. Believe what you want to believe. The facts are as clear as the photos I posted above.

Henry120: @Fkaz, that na why I provide pictures to buttress my point. Abi you blind? You wan see all the 1200 troops before you believe.

The most important thing is, I have provided images to show that nigerian troops have since began patrols, picture still shows our fighter jet, and our C-130 Hercules plane. E dey left to you to believe wetin you wan believe.

sorry bros i no know say you dey mad.

fkaz:

sorry bros i no know say you dey mad.

Abeg, help me give am my own apology too. Him case dey very bad..