Despite the frustration Nigeria has faced attempting to procure military hardware from the United States and some of its allies for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram in the North-east, the federal government said yesterday it had concluded arrangements for the purchase of three aircraft from the Czech Republic to combat the menace of terrorism in the country.

The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, while playing host to the Czech Republic Ambassador to Nigeria and his team.

Moro said aside from strengthening bilateral relations, the visit would also foster cooperation in taming the menace of terrorism in the country.

According to the minister, the reopening of the Nigerian Embassy in Prague by President Goodluck Jonathan underscored the determination of the president to widen the scope of investment and international cooperation between the two countries

He noted that this had underscored the desire of Nigeria to strengthen the economic relations with the Czech Republic with Nigeria’s appointment of Mrs. Catherine Okon as the Nigerian ambassador to the country.

He said: “Let me state here that at the moment Nigeria has been grappling with the insurgency in the Northeast, and I am happy to note that as a result of my visit to the Czech Republic and the willingness of the country to cooperate with Nigeria in terms of fighting terrorism, we have proposed to purchase from the Czech Republic three aircraft for border patrol and management.

“Therefore, there is need for us to work together in fighting terrorism, which is a global issue and manifesting strongly in Nigeria. Let me also state that the government of Nigeria is determined to win the war against terrorism.”

Moro revealed that with the approval by relevant authorities, the aircraft would be purchased in the no distance future to complement the efforts of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in combating border crimes and security of borders to safeguard Nigeria’s interest.

The minister revealed that his visit to Czech Republic last year saw a Nigerian that was incarcerated in a prison in Prague released on his intervention, stressing that it further went to demonstrate the determination of the two countries to work together in areas of mutual interest.

He stated that in 2003, 28 Nigerians were languishing in various prisons in the Czech Republic whom he sought to be transferred to the prisons back home.

The areas of mutual interest that could be explored by both countries was highlighted by the minister to include: possibility of transfer of prisoners, visa waivers between the two countries and other travel documentation, immigration and consular services, and internal security and border management.

Earlier, the Czech Ambassador to Nigeria, Pavel Mikes, said the cooperation between both countries went beyond the insurgency, stressing that his country would be willing to cooperate with Nigeria in the area of border control and training.

He said expatriates from his country would be sent down to Nigeria to help train the officers in handling the aircraft and provide other training programmes as regards to boarder control.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-to-purchase-three-aircraft-from-czech-republic-for-border-patrol/191338/

Brb

Oluwa dalu for this . This is a lesson. to every one. DEPENDING ON 1 SOURCE IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU.

ifyan:
Oluwa dalu for this . This is a lesson. to every one. DEPENDING ON 1 SOURCE IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU.

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yea I concur, they should look for other alternatives, so we can fight these BH lunatics.