₦airaland Forum

Mike..ZA:
Here are the facts: No matter where the Nigerian armed would meet the SANDF in a battle situation. Your army would perish under real fire,before your army can learn how to fight a conventional war. It will be wiped out SAAF.

Ask any army currently in the theatre fighting an insurgency whether they would prefer counter terrorism/counter insurgency warfare or conventional warfare and which is more difficult.

Mike..ZA:
Apply your "ranking systems". Which you use to rank how discipline a army is to the BDF.

In other words, you don't know.

Shekau is dead, you obviously don't understand the art of disinformation/propaganda. The video was faked by desperate BH and their sympathisers to keep the morale of their fast fading fighters going.

Mike..ZA:
Botswana has one of Africa's best disciplined infantry. Way better than Nigeria's. This comment further demonstrates how empty your head is.

Can you kindly expand on what makes Botswana a more disciplined army, i.e. what criteria you used? Are you talking about a parade ground army or discipline under combat conditions etc.

No fantasist's response please.

Nahco Partners the Nigerian Air Force

11 Oct 2013

060513F1.Nigerian-Air-Force.jpg-060513F1.Nigerian-Air-Force.jpg

Nigeria Air Force

The Nigeria Air Force and the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strategic partnership that would improve safety at airports and the country.

During the signing recently in Lagos, the chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, hailed the leadership of nahco aviance for its giant strides in the nation’s aviation industry.

Badeh described the agreement as a strategic partnership that would aid the safety of the nation’s airports as well as empower the men of the Nigerian Air force and contribute to national security.
While thanking the management of nahco aviance, Badeh, in company of other top Nigeria Air Force chiefs, said civil aviation actually emanated from the air force, and expressed his organisation’s interest in cargo and aircraft handling as being provided by nahco aviance.

Chairman of nahco aviance, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, in his remarks said the synergy between the air force and nahco was a historic one and expressed his gratitude to the Nigerian Air force for its support.

After the signing ceremony, Air Marshal Badeh took a facility tour of the company as well as commissioned the only International Air Transport Association (IATA) Authorised Training Centre (ATC) at the nahco facility.

The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such syndicated room, main training room, e-learning, e-library, e-centre and a VIP lounge and the facility is aimed to provide training support for the nation’s aviation industry, especially in ground handling competencies, intensive training program in ramp and cargo operations and passenger services.

The centre also carries out Education Consulting, Recurrent Test and Examination, Training Need Assessment, Personality Profiling, Competency assessment, Soft Skill Training and Aviation Certificated training.

By this agreement, the Learning and Development centre would train the air force in certain areas and support them in their deployment across the country and the continent.
Yahyah emphasised the need for all stakeholders in the industry to come together so that standards could be raised beyond the present level, reiterating the company’s readiness to collaborate with others in achieving a better aviation industry.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nahco-partners-the-nigerian-air-force/161272/

Fynline: Oga from this video u will notice that the navy chaps salute differently, more like the americans...i tot there should be uniformity in the way our services salute....wats ur take?

The different services have different traditions and to make them uniform would remove that proud sense of identity. Just my take on it.

FG Sends Another 800 Soldiers To Darfur

By: Isaiah Benjamin on October 12, 2013 - 3:50am

Another batch of 800 officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army have been sent to Darfur, Sudan for peace operations by the federal government.

The officers and soldiers were drawn from the 342 Artillery Regiment, Owerri under 82 Division, Enugu and are expected to leave Nigeria for Darfur tomorrow.

Speaking at the graduation of the troops pre-deployment training at the Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre (NAPKC), Jaji, Kaduna State yesterday, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Enugu, Major General Ashimiyu Olaniyi, said the four-week pre-deployment training given to the troops was to enable them protect themselves, United Nations equipment and the loyal citizens of their host nation.

The GOC, who was represented by Brigadier-General Abubakar Alkali, warned the peacekeepers to avoid being seen as a soft target due to carelessness or act of cowardice.

According to him, “I must categorically state that you must fight to discharge your duties in consonance with the mission mandate when the need arises. I must also remind you that Rules of Engagement in the mission has given you all the latitude to exhibit bravery and fight like professional soldiers while you protect yourself, your colleagues, law abiding civilians and property in the cause of executing your task”.

In his address, Commandant of NAPKC, Major General Salihu Uba, disclosed that the troop was adequately trained to ensure effective performance in any Peace Support Operation, with particular emphasis on effective operations in Darfur region of Sudan.

http://leadership.ng/news/121013/fg-sends-another-800-soldiers-darfur

Quite an interesting article;

Africa seen as $20B emerging arms market


Sept. 16, 2013
| 3:22 PM



JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- International defense companies, increasingly dependent on exports because of deep military spending cuts in the United States and Europe, are reportedly looking to mineral-rich Africa to help get them out of a hole.
The U.S. weekly Defense News reports that projections for defense spending in Africa, where there are established or emerging energy booms in the western and eastern regions, will exceed $20 billion over the next decade.

This is no doubt linked in part to the recent expansion of several armies in Africa, which constitutes 20 percent of the world's landmass and since the end of the colonial era in 1960s seems to have been in continual ferment with wars, coup and insurgencies.

Most of this expansion has taken place since 2001 and is primarily concerned with Western-backed efforts to bolster the region's counterterrorism capabilities.

This is particularly true in the Sahel region of northern Africa, including the oil and gas-rich Mediterranean belt, and in the Horn of Africa on the east coast, where al-Qaida and its offshoots have been highly active.

"The scramble for the African defense market has just begun, and it will continue over the next decade," says Col. Joseph Sibanda, a retired army officer in Zimbabwe and now a defense analyst.

He believes that countries like Mozambique, an impoverished former Portuguese colony that's now the center of a major gas boom with neighboring Tanzania, along with Uganda and Kenya, where oil and gas has been found, will need to recalibrate their defense requirements toward protecting their oil and gas infrastructure onshore and offshore.

These will include more patrol ships and probably maritime surveillance aircraft and possibly unmanned aerial vehicles.

"Africa will in the next few years rise to become a defense market almost at the same level with Southeast Asia," Sibanda observed.

"Military aircraft, armored vehicles and advanced artillery systems will be top of the list as African militaries and law enforcement authorities modernize to meet new security threats."

Defense News cited market analysts as saying "demand for military hardware in Africa is set to increase as governments gear up to fight terrorists and Islamic militants.

"Nations say they need better firepower, modernized forces, improved armed mobility and stronger force protection to fight militants that have become the scourge of nations throughout East, West and North Africa."

Oxford Analytica observed there has been "an expansionary period for most of sub-Saharan Africa's leading armies" as well despite the continent's widespread poverty.

This is attributed largely to expanded donor-funded peacekeeping operations involving African forces and "elevated security threat perceptions." This has been particularly evident in Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria.

"Since 2001, Africa's armies appear to have enjoyed external support levels not since the height of the Cold War," Oxford Analytica observed.

"U.S. and European programs have funded initiatives aimed at 'stabilization' or 'democratic consolidation'." However, it noted that "such schemes appear to have had limited success in improving performance."

Africa has not been a key market for major Western defense contractors, although the oil-rich African states like Nigeria, Algeria and Libya have been buyers of top-tier weapon systems like aircraft, naval vessels and tanks over the years.

The only African states with indigenous arms industries are South Africa, although its Israel-linked defense sector has diminished considerably since the end of white rule in 1994, and Egypt, which since the 1979 peace agreement with Israel has largely been U.S.-oriented.

"South African companies are especially better positioned to make the best out of this business opportunity given their excellent track record in meeting continental defense needs," Sibanda said.

South Africa's defense sector is led by Denel, capable of producing advanced missile systems, world-class artillery and aerospace systems. The country, Africa's largest economy, could be a major beneficiary of a major equipment upgrade of the continent's armed forces.

Denel and B&T of Switzerland recently signed a technology transfer under which Denel will produce and market small arms ranging from submachine guns to grenade launchers.

Denel will initially use Swiss-made components whole upgrading its production plant to manufacture the parts in South Africa.

In the aviation sector, Denel Aviation recently signed a repair and service deal with Eurocopter, a division of the European defense giant EADS, that covers all AS332 Super Puma, B0 105, AS350 Ecureuil and Alouette helicopters in Africa.


Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2013/09/16/Africa-seen-as-20B-emerging-arms-market/UPI-26421379359376/#ixzz2hQZgMnxd

Hull formation ceremony in China for 2 new NN OPVs;

http://www.navy.mil.ng/Photo-Gallery/44.html

Hull formation ceremony in China for the 2 new OPVs;

http://www.navy.mil.ng/Photo-Gallery/44.html

More in-depth analysis of the training exercise;

TEXT OF JOINT PRESS BRIEFING ON THE AFRICAN WINDS TRAINING EXERCISE HELD AT THE DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS ON 6 OCTOBER 2013




Posted: 2013-10-07 05:47:59
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Permit me to welcome you all to this joint press briefing on the ongoing Training Exercise called AFRICAN WINDS. AFRICAN WINDS is the nickname for a maritime capacity building training programme for the Armed Forces of Nigeria in conjunction with the Netherlands Maritime Forces under the auspices of the United States sponsored African Partnership Station. The objective of AFRICAN WINDS is to enhance the capacity of African military forces to develop and improve their capacity to jointly plan and execute military operations in a maritime environment. The countries covered by the programme are: Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroun.

Under the programme, the Netherland Maritime Forces is providing an amphibious logistic support ship, the HMNLS ROTTERDAM to support the training and exercises. The ship which carries a total of 668 troops, 4 helicopters and 6 special boats called Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) is expected to be in Lagos from 15 – 18 October and in Calabar from 21 – 24 October. It also carries many Fast Raid Interception Special Forces Craft used in inserting small number of specially trained troops from sea to land particularly in creeks. The LCU is capable of carrying up to 120 fully equipped soldiers while the LCVP carries 35 Special Forces troops over a distance of 200 nautical miles. The LCUs and LCVPs are used to land troops from the sea to specific objectives on land.

The AFRICAN WINDS programme has started with 14 days training that will be conducted by Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) drawn from US, UK and Netherland Marines followed by 4 days exercises that will be conducted by units from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and Special Forces from the US, UK, Netherland Marines and Spanish Special Forces. The training in Lagos will be conducted at the Joint Maritime Security Training Centre (JMSTC) Navy Town, Ojo from 4 – 14 October while the exercises will be conducted at Ibeshe Beach and the JMSTC/Naval Ordnance Depot (NOD) waterfront between 15 and 18 October. The exercises that will be conducted in Lagos will include Amphibious Raid, Maritime Counter Terrorism, Vessel Boarding Stop and Search in an opposed environment and Hydrographic Survey. A total of 221 Nigerian and foreign troops will participate in the training and exercises in Lagos area. The Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babatunde Fashola along with the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Azubike Ihejirika and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba are expected to attend the exercises. The Nigerian troops are drawn from the Army’s 81 Division, the Navy’s Special Boat Service, the Western Naval Command and the Hydrographer of the Navy. The Nigerian Air Force Special Operations Group and the 81 Air Maritime Group as well as the Naval Air Station will be providing air support for the exercises. The Lagos training and exercises which has been nick named AFEFE EKO, Yoruba word for Lagos Wind will be commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding, the Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Ibokete Ibas.

Other programmes that will be conducted in Lagos under the AFRICAN WINDS programme are an Environmental Workshop and a Maritime Security Conference which are sponsored by the Netherlands Embassy. They will both be held onboard the ROTTERDAM. The Environmental Workshop will hold on 16 October while the Maritime Security Conference will hold on 17 October. It is expected that the Conference will be opened by the Chief of the Naval Staff and attended by the Governor of Lagos State. The former commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Anti-Piracy Task Force in the Indian Ocean, Rear Admiral Ben Bekkering and Brigadier General Oppelaar Briggen, the Director of Operations of the Netherlands Armed Forces will also attend the Maritime Security Conference.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, the training in Calabar will be conducted at the Nigerian Army Amphibious Warfare Training School (ATS) from 7 to 21 October while the exercises will be conducted at the Tinapa and Muddy Beach in Calabar and Oron Beach in Akwa Ibom State from 21 to 24 October. The exercises to be conducted in Calabar will include hydrographic survey and demonstrations. Other exercises to be conducted in Calabar include Riverine and Jungle operations which will be carried out by a combined force from the Nigerian Army Amphibious Warfare Training School, the United States, United Kingdom and Netherland Marines. An Amphibious Raid exercise planned and executed by troops from the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service and the NNS JUBILEE will be carried out at Oron Beach in Akwa Ibom State to mark the end of the exercise.

The training and exercises in Calabar and Oron nicknamed OFEM EFIK, meaning Calabar Winds in the Efik language will be commanded by the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Joe Aikhomu. The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke will be attending the Riverine and Jungle Exercise at Tinapa and Muddy Beach respectively while the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio will attend the Amphibious Raid exercise at Oron Beach. Other dignitaries expected to attend the Oron exercise are the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Azubike Ihejirika and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, who will equally witness the oil rig protection exercise. The leader of the Netherlands AFRICAN WINDS delegation, Colonel Fredik Swart will be paying courtesy calls on the Governors of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States on the arrival of the ship, HMNLS ROTTERDAM off the Calabar River.

It is expected that the AFRICAN WINDS training and exercises will further improve the capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces to deal with the numerous security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea especially the stealing of crude oil and attacks on merchant ships. The programme which is in furtherance of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral OS Ibrahim’s drive to promote effective Joint Services operations among the Services of the Nigeria’s Armed Forces as well as friendly military forces from other countries and other maritime agencies. The Nigerian Ports Authority for example will be participating in the hydrographic survey exercise in Lagos and Calabar. In addition, the NPA has offered one of its ships, the MT SEA LION to participate in the Maritime Counter Terrorism Exercise in Lagos while a foremost indigenous oil prospecting and production company, Moni Pulo Nigeria Limited has permitted the Navy to use its Floating Production Facility, AGBANI for the oil rig protection exercise. The involvement of these non military organisations further underscores the success of the efforts of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ezeoba has been making towards achieving a collaborative effort in tackling the maritime security challenges in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

So far, the HMNLS ROTTERDAM, which has 4 Nigerian Navy young officers onboard, has successfully conducted exercises with the armed forces of Morocco, Senegal, Ghana and Togo. She is expected to exercise with the armed forces of the Republic of Benin before arriving Nigeria on 15 October. In addition to her troop carrying capacity, the ship equally operates a hospital with two operating theatres.

http://www.navy.mil.ng/press/26.news#.UlffIL5waFQ

Ihejirika: French Language Denied Nigeria Lead Role in Mali

11 Oct 2013

Lt-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika

French, Arabic now compulsory for officers Says army ready to defend Nigeria’s territory

Senator Iroegbu

The Chief of Army Staff(COAS), Lt-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, has said Nigeria’s inability to speak French Language was the main reason the country was denied the Command of the United Nations Multi-dimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MNUSMA).
He also said Army had recently established a Nigerian Army language school where French is being taught “in realisation of the fact that Nigeria is being surrounded by Francophone countries in the face of the current security challenges.”

Ihejirika, who disclosed this yesterday when he played host to the Senate Committee on Defence and Army, which was at the Army Headquarters, Abuja to ascertain the budget performance of the army from the first to third quarter of this year, said: “The steps was taken because Nigerian Army was denied the leadership of the United Nations' force in Mali as the qualified officers could not speak French... and that was the only factor that militated against them (from the headship of MNUSMA).”

The COAS also said henceforth, French and Arabic language would be taught in schools, adding that officers and soldiers would be compelled to be bilingual.
According to him “one of the consideration for appointments henceforth will be being bilingual. More importantly, is the fact that cooperation with our neighbours will be adversely affected by the lack of French language.”
Nigeria withdrew about 1,000 troops (about 90 per cent) deployed to Mali, following the appointment of Rwandan's Maj-Gen Jean Bosco Kazura, to command the MNUSMA.

In a related development, Ihejirika has assured Nigerians that the service is ready to protect and defend the nation’s territory integrity, despite the current security challenges facing the country.

The COAS, who lamented the lack of funds, which had hampered some constituency projects, said such projects would be carried out as soon as the funds were released from the Ministry of Finance.

Ihejirika further noted that the new 7 Division of the Nigerian Army was established to take charge of the North-east because it was difficult to direct troops from Jos, Plateau State to Maiduguri, Borno State owing to the massive land mass.

He added that Borno State alone was bigger in size than some African countries.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate committee on Defence and Army, Senator George Sekibo, said the committee would take a tour of the project sites of the army to see their performance.

“We have however... in the books, seen that they have done well, especially in the area of internal security operations,” Sekibo said.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/ihejirika-french-language-denied-nigeria-lead-role-in-mali/161315/

Henry120: We've already invited them for a joint exercise in the early months of 2014. So this visit would most likely be a port visit only.

Yeah!, I know their main destination is the symposium in Senegal and just a port visit like NSS Thunder in Cape Town. I just meant small boat operations.

Would be interesting to see how the exercise pans out next year.

NaijaPikinGidi: It has dawned on the Camerounians that the days of being complacent and docile are over! The December 2013 "deadline" handed to the Nigerian Army by President Jonathan can now be seen in good context -- to dislodge and neutralise the armed capabilities of Boko Haram and necessary incursions into Cameroun.

I hope FighterPilot will emerge from his hiatus to read this story. There can be no better sense of urgency than in the deliberate intelligence operations and sustained ground and air sweeping of the North Eastern hideouts of these insurgents.

Jeje we dey move oo ... Jeje ...

It has only dawned on them when gendarmes get killed. It is key now to follow up relentlessly.

Don't mind the section of negative intentioned people on this forum. Anybody with an ounce of intelligence will understand the massive achievements so far in this current campaign.

This is what can be achieved when there is co-operation from our neighbours especially Cameroun.

180 B’Haram insurgents killed by Camerounian soldiers – Military

A fierce gunfight launched against the fundamentalist Islamist group, Boko Haram, by Camerounian soldiers has led to the killing of no fewer than 180 insurgents and two gendarmes around a Nigerian border with Cameroun.

It was gathered that during the battle which took place on Tuesday evening, many of the wounded insurgents were also arrested.

About 200 rifles, 70 machine guns and heavy military hardware were said to have been recovered from the insurgents by the soldiers.

A reliable military source confirmed the development to our correspondent shortly after the the Nigerian Army in Kano State disclosed that it had foiled a plot to bomb Kano during the forthcoming Sallah festival by uncovering a bomb factory in Gezawa Local Government Area.

It was gathered that the Camerounian authorities directed the soldiers to launch the attack against the Nigerian gunmen, who had earlier on Tuesday, ambushed and killed two gendarmes on patrol in the border community.

Our source said the soldiers, while pursuing the insurgents, sent a signal to their Nigerian counterparts, to be on the alert to avoid the escape of the fleeing insurgents.

According to the source, the number of those killed, the arrests and the recovered arms indicated that many Boko Haram members, who were forced out of Nigeria through military operations, had already “settled comfortably” in Cameroun.

He said, “The Camerounian troops have been involved in a serious confrontation with the insurgents. They have killed over 180 of them.

“Almost 200 rifles and 70 machine guns were recovered from them by Camerounian soldiers.

“What led to this operation was that the insurgents killed two gendarmes on patrol around the border with Nigeria on Tuesday. I think this angered them to order a comprehensive raid of the hideouts of the insurgents.

“You can see from the casualty figure and the level of seizures that they were already comfortable in that part of Cameroun until this incident.

“Ironically, the Camerounians who had been reluctant in spite of complaints by Nigeria at the diplomatic level are the ones now reaching out to us to ensure that the fleeing insurgents are not allowed to escape. So, I can tell you that the heat is on them.”

It was also gathered that Nigerien soldiers in the Multinational Joint Task Force killed an unspecified number of Boko Haram members on some island communities near Lake Chad on Sunday.

Investigations revealed that the Nigerien component of the MNJTF went after the insurgents on learning of the killing of one of them.

Our source said the intensified military action against the insurgents had made the nation’s northern border rather too hot for them.

When our correspondent contacted the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen Chris Olukolade, he said, “Our neighbouring countries, either through the instrumentality of the Multi National Joint Task Force or through their security instruments, are involved in operations to complement what we are doing against terrorism.

“I am aware that the MNJTF and Nigerian security agencies are combing everywhere for any strange movement in our territory,” Olukolade said.

Also in Abuja on Wednesday, the Commander ‘3’ Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen Illiyasu Abba, said that operatives raided a house in Gunduwawa, Gezawa LGA and discovered a bomb factory.

He told journalists at a press briefing in Kano that bomb making items recovered from the factory were meant to carry out attacks in Kano during the Sallah and other festivals this year.

A young man suspected to be a child of the owner of the house rented out to the suspected terrorists was shot dead.

Abba said, “At about 2 am on October 8, a combined team of the JTF troops and Department of State Services raided two Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts at Gunduwawa village in the Gezawa Local Government Area.

“The raid, which was conducted following a lead on intelligence reports, made no arrests as the terrorists fled the village on the approach of the JTF troops and DSS personnel.

“The weapons and other dangerous materials were meant to wreak havoc on Kano during the Eid-el-Kabir and other festivities before the end of the year.’’

He listed Improvised Explosive Devices, ‘two AK 58 with 193 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, one AK 47 magazine with 107 rounds of 5.56 millimeter ammunition, bows and arrows as some of the recovered items.

Three primed cylinders of IEDs, one primed explosive suicide back pack, 18 empty IED cylinders, 24 detonators, a small bag of fertiliser, IED timers cortex wires, three remote control devices, five Motorola hand held radios, four communicators, six alarm clocks, two cartons of nine -volt batteries, a scale, one external hard drive and one heavy duty charger/battery were also recovered from the house.

PUNCH

Short URL: http://www.osundefender.org/?p=125860
http://www.osundefender.org/?p=125860

Improved Nigerian maritime surveillance and response cuts crude oil theft and piracy



Written by Staff Writer, Wednesday, 09 October 2013


Nigerian Navy improves surveillance and responsePiracy, crude oil theft and other illegal operations in Nigeria’s maritime environment are a major source of revenue leakage and the Nigerian Navy (NN) has put measures in place to ensure this sector of the national economy is properly protected.

In the first seven months of this year it has seized 25 vessels suspected of involvement in crude oil theft and bunkering.

That the Nigerian military has to provide protection to more than 5 700 oil wells, 9 717 km of pipeline, 112 flow stations, 16 gas plants and 126 floating platforms in the country’s maritime environment underscores the need for adequate maritime security a statement said.

The Nigerian maritime arm of service is employing a three-pronged approach based on the first NN Strategic Guidance (SG-01) policy issued last October. It defines deliverables including the elimination of piracy, sea robbery and crude oil theft.

Surveillance is the first priority, which has seen NN regional maritime awareness facilities installed along the Nigerian coastline to ensure adequate electronic surveillance of the nation’s coastal areas.

A response initiative involving deployments of boats and/or vessels to interrogate/arrest suspicious vessels picked up by electronic surveillance is the second step in the SG-01 policy.

“To improve response capability, naval presence and deterrence, the NN carried out force restructuring which included the creation of an additional operational Command, new forward operating bases (FOBs), outposts, coastal observation posts and flying units among others for increased reach to counter crude oil theft and piracy,” the statement continues.

“Equally, the NN asset recapitalisation drive has resulted in acquisition of seaward defence boats and other mixes of platforms, helicopters and support facilities to enforce its statutory responsibilities. Two new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are under construction in China to boost the fleet. It should be noted that for capacity building one of the OPVs will be built in China and the other will be completed in Nigeria. For maintenance and ensuring availability of platforms, the upgrading of ship support and repair facilities is also being carried out by the NN. All these have greatly enhanced NN response initiative capabilities.”

The third SG-01 step sees suspects handed to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, the country’s Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Police for prosecution.

The need for and result of improved maritime surveillance and response is illustrated by the fact that 968 crude oil tankers successfully lifted more than 82 million metric tons of crude oil on behalf of the Nigerian federal government between January and September this year without a single successful attack by sea robbers or pirates.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32168:improved-nigerian-maritime-surveillance-and-response-cuts-crude-oil-theft-and-piracy&catid=108:maritime-security&Itemid=233

andrewza: You right propergander and infomastion control is imported part of a milltary operastion. Somthing both SA and Nigeria strugel at.

You are spot on.

andrewza: we comeing up north to say hi.

http://itweb.co.za/mobilesite/defenceweb/home/item_id-32154/



Navy shows the flag on West Coast patrol

by Dean Wingrin, October 9, 9:43 am

The South African Navy frigate SAS Spioenkop departed Simon's Town Wednesday morning on a patrol along the west coast of Africa, destined for Dakar in Senegal.


During her six-week voyage, the South African warship will be visiting Walvis Bay (Namibia), Luanda (Angola), Tema (Ghana) and Lagos (Nigeria) prior to arriving in Dakar where she will support the South African contingent participating at the Sea Power for Africa Symposium.

The patrol, known as INTEROP WEST, is a military diplomacy mission, showing the flag in each of the ports. En route, the ship will exercise with various African Navies and allow naval officers of different countries to sail on board.

According to Capt Chris Manig, Commander of the Frigate Squadron, the actual exercises will be decided by the ship and the host country whilst the ship is alongside.

"We won't have any specific requirements that we want to exercise with our neighbours, it's more about what they would like to do with us on areas that they want to brush up on," Manig explained.

"We'll look at the visiting country's capacity in terms of their navy and any specific outcomes they want to concentrate on and then we'll discuss a program around that," he continued.

The exercises will possibly concentrate on maritime interdiction and anti-piracy type operations, including anti-piracy boarding training.

Commanded by Captain MA Boucher, the Spioenkop has a crew of 180, together with a dozen Maritime Reaction Squadron (MRS) members and four specialists from the South African Military Health Services (SAMS). The South African Air Force contingent with a Super Lynx maritime helicopter had to pull out at the last minute due to serviceability issues with the helicopter.

Whilst a blow to the Navy, Manig put on a brave face. Spioenkop is due to replace SAS Isandlwana on Operation Copper, the anti-piracy mission in the Mozambique Channel, in January next year.

"We will definitely be taking a helicopter (then), so we will catch up on what we couldn't achieve on this particular trip, Manig said, "So it is of no real concern to us."

The west coast of Africa, particularly the Gulf of Guinea and the Niger Delta, is a high piracy threat area. The Navy says that the pirates in the area are getting more and more brazen in terms of who they board and who they take hostage. As the navies in the area have their own practices in place to counter the piracy threat, the Spioenkop will not be going out and actively looking for any pirates.

However, Manig explained that they may be called upon to assist whilst they are in the area as they have the capability of assisting with the MRS boarding teams and boats onboard. Thus, the MRS is capable of intercepting and boarding any suspicious vessels as part of the anti-piracy objectives or hijacking at sea.

Once alongside in Senegal, the ship will participate in the 4th Sea Power for Africa Symposium from 4 to 8 November 2013. Attended by Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral Refiloe Mudimu, the Symposium is attended by Chiefs of the navies or their representatives from most of the African coastal and inland navies, together with observers from international navies. It aims at identifying, prioritising and resolving various maritime issues facing Africa.

Spioenkop will also act as a display platform for the South African Defence Industry, where Denel will be showcasing various defence industry products and hardware.

Having spent 10 days in Senegal, Spioenkop will depart on 11 November and passage direct to Simon's Town, arriving on 22 November.

Spioenkop recently participated in Ex Shared Accord, the joint South African/ US Armed Forces exercise that was held in the Eastern Cape in July this year.

INTEROP WEST and INTEROP EAST are generally held alternatively each year, with the aim of building and maintaining co-operation with navies along the coast of Africa.

I'm sure they will be given a very warm welcome and an opportunity for some joint training.

andrewza: Not saying the guy is a incorect but the DDI's job is to make the milltary look good.

You're not wrong there. That is at present part of their failings. They are allowing boko haram and their cohorts gain the upper hand in dissemination of information.

I don't know what you all make of the below;

GuardianWednesday, Oct 09th
National News Armed groups attack Nigeria’s embassy in G’Bissau Skip to content
Armed groups attack Nigeria’s embassy in G’Bissau Wednesday, 09 October 2013 00:00 From Oghogho Obayuwana, Foreign Affairs Editor News - National E-mail Print
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Armed-personARMED groups Tuesday attacked the Nigerian embassy in Bissau, capital of Guinea-Bissau, a country of about 1.7 million people. The reason for the action is not yet known.

The event is happening just as the country is preparing for its general elections slated for next month.

Guinea-Bissau currently has an Interim President, Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo, who emerged in May 2012 to head a transitional government following the sacking of the country’s democratically-elected government by a military coup.

According to The Guardian sources, armed personnel and militias stormed the Nigerian embassy in a commando style, attacking everyone in sight and eventually causing the closure of the Nigerian sovereign outpost.

As at press time, members of staff of the embassy, including the Nigerian envoy to that country, Ambassador Ahmed Adams, were said to be taking refuge in a police station. No casualty has so far been reported.

All efforts by The Guardian to reach the Nigerian envoy to the country failed. Although his telephone rang, he did not pick.

Although the Federal Government was yet to officially react to the development yesterday, it was learnt that the supervisory Minister of Foreign Affairs 11, Ambassador Nurudeen Mohammed, rushed to the Presidential Villa yesterday ostensibly, among other things, to brief President Goodluck Jonathan. All efforts to reach the minister yesterday on the matter failed.

Events in Guinea-Bissau took a dangerous turn on April 12, 2012, when the army arrested Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Júnior who was about to be elected president. A military junta accused him of conspiring with Angola to curtail the military’s power and quickly installed transitional authorities, before officially stepping aside on May 22. International condemnation was swift, but differences developed between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).

The country was actually in the process of conducting elections when the military overthrew the constitutional order on April 12, 2012. This incident resulted in the suspension of the country from all international organisations. However, following the country’s inability to form a government well over a month after the coup, Nigeria, in close collaboration with ECOWAS, assisted in negotiations that resulted in the transitional government led by President Manuel Nhamadjo. Since then, Nigeria has provided various forms of assistance to Guinea- Bissau to the value of $50 million.

The Guardian learnt Tuesday that some high grade pick-up vans meant to be donated next week to Guinea-Bissau for the upcoming elections have now been put on hold following yesterday’s ugly development.


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/national-news/135049-armed-groups-attack-nigerias-embassy-in-gbissau-

This is what we have been trying to tell our SA friends. See below excerpt;

[b]Meanwhile, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in a statement yesterday, said the report entitled “War on Insurgency: Operational Blunders, Poor Supplies Causing Military Losses”, was not credible.
According to him, the story simply followed the pattern of reports by some online media and other underground media lately.

He noted that in the said report, the newspaper alluded to operational blunder, obsolete weapons and under-stocked armouries as some of the major reasons behind what it termed “military’s apparent inability to end the Boko Haram insurgency.”

He said: “This fiction and distortion of facts in the above story has once again exposed the tendency of a desperate section of the media to attribute fictitious stories to a non-existent ‘defence sources’.

“There is nothing professional, in-depth or objective in fabricating stories and attributing them to the usually unidentified but ubiquitous so called ‘Defence sources’, all in an attempt to make more sales or create wrong impressions about the military system.

“The Defence Headquarters wishes to emphatically state that the information contained in these reports did not emanate from any credible or authentic source within the Defence Headquarters or the military establishment as claimed by the writers of that story.”

The DDI further enjoined members of the public to discountenance the said report and similar reports attributed to “these spurious and unknown defence sources as they do not represent the fact about the situation in the military or the ongoing operations.”

Olukolade, who appealed to the media not to rely on spurious sources in reporting sensitive defence and security matters, emphasised that professionalism demanded an extra effort to clarify issues before going to press.
[/b]
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/over-30-boko-haram-insurgents-killed-in-army-raids/161025/

Ezeoba Commends NNS Thunder Crew In Australia


By: Bayo Oladeji on October 7, 2013 - 5:33pm
.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, has commended the performance of officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy ship, NNS THUNDER at the on-going Royal Australian Navy’s International Fleet Review in Sydney, Australia.

Ezeoba reportedly made this commendation during a visit to the ship where he also warned the personnel against any act that could bring the name of the country into a disrepute.

He charged them to make the country proud through the programme in the interest of Nigeria and their career.

According to a statement issued by the director of information (Navy), Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, on Monday in Abuja, many other highly placed Nigerians and top government officials who were there with the Naval chief also paid a glowing tribute to the crew.

“Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Australia, Ambassador Ayo Olukanni commended President Goodluck Jonathan, the Chief of Naval Staff and NNS THUNDER’s personnel for the presence of the ship in Austarlia which would go a long way to correct whatever bad impressions Australians may have on Nigerians,” the Naval spokesman stated.

The Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs was also reported to have expressed appreciation for the presence of NNS THUNDER, the only African ship at the Review, a global programme.

The International Fleet Review began on October 3 with 37 participating ships assembling at the Jarvis Bay for onward movement to Sydney, the venue of the historic event, in tactical formation.

The event will end on October 11, Friday and will include a multi-national sea exercise and other notable events intended to showcase the cordial relationship that exists among global maritime forces.

The last time a Nigerian Navy ship participated in an international maritime exercise outside Africa was in 2007 when NNS ARADU and NNS OBULA participated in the Brazilian Navy’s Centenary celebrations.
.- See more at: http://leadership.ng/news/071013/ezeoba-commends-nns-thunder-crew-australia#sthash.zK5BqloY.dpuf

http://leadership.ng/news/071013/ezeoba-commends-nns-thunder-crew-australia

Mike..ZA:
Yes,example being Israel through fighting that trained it tanks crews in long range gunnery. Why was the T-35 not effective in the hands of North Korean troops? But was feared when the Soviets were using it. 1. African countries are poor and we don't have massive supply capabilities. 2. Which is why it is crucial to develop tactics for the African battlefield which will only come from experience. 3. African air forces fighting capabilities can't be compared to NATO countries who host a lot of training exercises. 4. Dogfight tactics are developed from combat experience like Israel's "four fingers" 5. Nigerian artillery pieces are obsolete and what do they use to track and select targets?,South Africa uses drones,special forces and ratels to mention a few. Where did we learn all this? Yes THE BUSHWAR!!!!! 6. Do you know the current commander of the SANDF tank regiment? Read about his story. 7. Your army rallies on numbers against rebels,but that won't be possible faced with a technological advanced country like SA. 8. How dare you rank Nigeria above SA with that lack experience 9. Remember wars are not just about armies and Generals,economics and politics are involved. 10.If the prospect of war between SA and Nigeria was real both countries would rearm their forces. But Nigeria would lose a lot of money purchasing foreign made weapons and spares. Which are not fitted for the African battlefield and need a lot of supplies to be effective. Example being your MI-35 helicopter which needs an airfield to rearm and fuel,which will mean you gonna have to pull jets from going to the front lines to defend a airfield or anti aircraft missiles.

I don't know why you keep saying Nigerian Army artillery pieces are obsolete. You have been educated enough times on this forum for me to repeat it all.

You haven't got a clue about the capabilities of the armed forces of Nigeria and I can see I will be wasting my time with you.

I have never ranked anybody above anybody else and how dare YOU question me?

You don't know the capabilities of the Nigerian Armoured Corp, so keep your delusions of grandeur to yourself. I thought I was conversing with someone sensible.

Enough said

saengine: Hahaha....these so called simulations are funny. You're going to hide Aradu behind what? A fishing trawler? Who does that? . Aradu will run aground in shallow water, so it has to be in deep water. You cant use any natural shallow water obstructions because you would have sunk Aradu trying to get to them. Meaning whatever you hide it behind must be a large heavy structure. A large structure below water makes it impossible for Aradu to move. You've trapped your only ship. It will take you two weeks to find enough material to hide it in deep water from torpedos, and another two weeks to remove that material.

If your naval commanders are dumb enough to do that, our special forces will thank you very much. Under the cover of darkness they get deployed from submarines and simply place explosives on Aradu. Very easy job. In 20/30m of water there's very little chance of being detected. There goes your rust buck, up in flames. And dont say this is impossible. SA special forces placed tracking devices on Russian ships in Mozambiquean ports during the Border War....did it numerous times without being detected.

Even if that was the scenario, I suppose the navy SBS divers will just be idling by doing nothing while Aradu is blown up nor the Army Amphibious chaps.

There again, the border war, past glories. As if nobody else can do the same.

Ok, that will work.

Mike..ZA:
Show us were Nigeria artillery destroyed tanks,APCs,SAMs,infantry,fighter planes and airfields. Show us any tank battle by your army,which will be build base to your current tank commanders. Your achieve that stuff because you rally on numbers against disorganised rebels. Your army can be pinned down by artillery while sitting trying to bridge a minefield.

That is what war simulation is about. Recount please how may countries the world over have engaged in tank combat etc.? Does this mean they are going to be no good when it actually comes to real life tank warfare?

Your current crop of officers haven't engaged in real life tank warfare. Does this also mean they will be unable to engage another tank?

You also seem to think the Nigerian Army School of Artillery is just there for decoration or they don't know how to engage the enemy.

The Swedes from whom you bought your gripen jets, they haven't engaged in any dog fights. Does this mean they won't be able to or will be incompetent?

Please, I know we are all patriotic and want the best for our countries and like to blow our trumpets a bit, but lets not make baseless statements.

20 killed Nigeria terrorist attack

Tag: Nigeria, Boko Haram, Abuja, Damboa, AK 47

Last Updated: Sunday, October 06, 2013, 21:24

Abuja: At least 20 people, including 15 suspected Boko Haram militants and five civilians, died on Sunday in a fresh attack by the armed Islamic sect in a sleepy town in Nigeria's northeastern Maiduin Borno state, Xinhua reported citing an army official said.

The attack took place at Damboa, 87 km from Maiduguri, Borno state's capital, around 4.30 am, acting spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Aliyu Danja, said in a statement reaching Xinhua.

"The terrorists, whose strength is unknown, sneaked into the town at about 4.30 am, attacked worshippers in a mosque and killed five of them who came to say their morning prayers," Danja said.

He said the insurgents burnt down the palace of the local chief, his house and some shops around the area but said some army troops intercepted the insurgents and engaged them in a shootout, leading to the death of 15 of the attackers while others fled in disarray.

"Fifteen Boko Haram terrorists were killed in the early hours of today when troops of 21 Brigade under 7 Division encountered Boko Haram terrorists in Damboa Local Government area of Borno State," he added.

"While they were unleashing their mayhem, troops under the 7 Division engaged the terrorists killing 15 in the process while others fled in disarray. Efforts are on to trace and destroy the feeling terrorists," he said.

He said one rocket-propelled grenade tube, two rocket-propelled grenade bombs, five AK 47 rifles, a pickup van and assorted ammunition were recovered from the scene of the shootout.

He urged residents to be conscious of strange movement of persons around their localities and assured the army's commitment "to bring Boko Haram menace to an end".

Attacks have been on rise in recent months in Borno, a state bordering Cameroon, Niger and Chad, where the threat from al Qaeda's north African branch AQIM is looming.

The Boko Haram sect seeks to enshrine the Islamic sharia law into the constitution and has declared war against Western education.

IANS


First Published: Sunday, October 06, 2013, 21:24

http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/20-killed-nigeria-terrorist-attack_881469.html

Mike..ZA:
Moving is not fighting. We wanna see combat kills,we judge from what you've done in the battlefield. Your army always rallies on numbers to crush ill supplied,disorganised(communication and command),lacking intelligence rebels. You have never fought under flying jet fighters,with an enemy armed with tanks,APCs,SAM,AA guns and artillery. Your man can't withstand real fire power brought down on them from well trained artillery men. MOVING TROOPS IS A NORMAL THING. SA always crushed enemies with lesser.

Moving troops en masse is not a NORMAL THING. Not every one can do it. You forget that the Nigerian army from day one has been trained in conventional warfare with the use of tanks, artillery e.t.c.

In fact, it was against the grain to engage in counter insurgency/counter terrorism as the army didn't have enough trained personnel for that kind or warfare. The fact they have achieved what they have, given the sometimes inadequate equipment at hand, is simply incredible. They are now building an incredible counter terrorism/counter insurgency force to be reckoned with.

agaugust: i get you clearly my senior bros, no mind me jare, na dose soweto boys dey annoy me wit dem 'headless' post

even a Gripen jet can crash, any aircraft can crash. american F-15 jets crash from time to time. some Gripen jets crashed for many years and that delayed its purchase by any user.

there are 2,400 F-7 jets flying all over the world so you hear more of its crashes. only 240 Gripen jets even exist and many dont fly at all like south africa has 12 in 'cold freezer' storage for long time to come.

F-7 technical issues were resolved for China, Nigeria, Pakistan....and Bangladesh got the benefit from their brand new F-7 jets built in 2013 this year...last factory production maybe.

Make u no worry bros. Dem get mouth so tey person dey tire. I don read all wetin them they talk all these months/years. I just no dey bother most of the time.

Keep the flag flying bros.

Mike..ZA:
The Biafra war? War of mercinaries,you didn't even have a air force back then,A war of marching columns? That war was about who can take casualties,putting another soldier at the place of the dead one it wasn't about tactics,communication and command,cooperation(Joint operations). Paying Egyptians to fly sorties for you. You only battled rebels,cannibalism is practised cause of soldiers not receiving supplies. Ever heard about Executive outcomes? That military contractor company,created in South Africa. No Nigerian operation can top the SADF's cassinga raid of joint operations from the Air force's canebera,pums,super frelons,C130s and baccaneer to the army's parabats. Including the army's chief on the ground facilitating such first mission by the SADF.

South African forces back then are different from what you have today. It isn't just about having the most modern weapons/kit, it is about the person/people behind/wearing the equipment. It other words, how you use it.

agaugust: F-7 jet technical issues have been resolved by china, pakistan, bangladesh and nigeria. the crashes have stopped. NAF flies them very regularly and they do reconaissance mission with special recce electronic pods.

dont underestimate that F-7 jet when it is the version from 2005 to 2013 or the upgraded versions of China and Pakistan.

some F-7 jets have radar range of 37km and missile range of 22km with thee best missiles and rockets in the world.

F-7 jet is primary role interceptor, secondary roles ground attack and recce/spy.

the F-7 PL-9 missile is one of the best in the world today and its ground attack rockets are equally world class to match the best from America/NATO.

call it a crap, but F-7 will kill any enemy within 22km range in a few seconds.

let us face facts....i dont judge weapons by what people say, but by what the weapon can do against its enemy.

Don't get me wrong, they are very capable like I said with the avionics suite, I just worry about some of the mechanical problems. I hope they have been truly been ironed out.

Nigerian deserves a 4+ generation fighter.

RAW Video of Fighter Jet Crash - F7 Flying coffins of Pakistan


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouwYErgDW5g

Mike..ZA:
Mechanical problem? That shows that your jets are just crap. This means you can't take them to any full blown war. Pakistan flies F7 but their jets don't "blast into flames".

Well, I am sure the pilot that was killed will agree with you. That's why they are called "flying coffins" by some in the know. The avionic suite isn't bad, just the engine I think may have issues.