By Saminu Ibrahim
Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has sought stronger military cooperation with the Czech Republic, particularly in the areas of advanced equipment, training and technology transfer to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and banditry.
Matawalle made the call during his participation in the Czech Air Force Days at Mošnov Airfield, Ostrava, where he inspected a range of land and air defence platforms.
The minister was accompanied by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Sulaiman Halilu; Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), Dr Dahiru Muhammed; and other officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
During the event, Matawalle and members of his delegation, alongside the Chief Executive Officer of DEFCON, Peter Markvart, toured exhibition stands showcasing military equipment and platforms.
Among the platforms inspected were the L-39 Skyfox jet trainer and light attack aircraft, as well as the L-410NG multipurpose transport aircraft.
The delegation also visited stands operated by Colt CZ Group, manufacturers of BREN-2 and BREN-3 assault rifles, M4 and AR-15 rifles, EVO-3 sub-machine guns, arms and ammunition of various calibres and ballistic protective equipment.
They also inspected equipment produced by MESIT, including tactical radio systems and VERA passive surveillance systems.
The companies’ chief executives, Andrej Furin, Petr Holouk and Ivan Ivanov, briefed the minister on the capabilities and applications of their respective platforms and equipment.
Impressed by the technologies on display, Matawalle commended the companies for their commitment to developing advanced military equipment, stressing that Nigeria required modern platforms and technologies to enhance ongoing counter-terrorism and anti-banditry operations.
The companies, in response, assured the minister of their readiness to support Nigeria with modern platforms equipped with advanced technology for deployment in ongoing military operations.
In a related development, Matawalle held separate strategic meetings with the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Miroslav Hlaváč; Commander of the Czech Land Forces, Maj. Gen. Josef Trojánek; and Commander of the Czech Air Force, Brig. Gen. Petr Tománek.
The discussions focused on military cooperation, including training, equipment maintenance and the provision of technologically advanced platforms for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The Czech military leaders, in their separate responses, expressed their willingness to provide the necessary support to strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.
