By Nkechi Eze
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has secured commitments from Czech defence companies and military authorities to support the Nigerian Armed Forces with modern military platforms and advanced technologies.
According to an official statement signed by the Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Defence, Queeneth Iheoma-Hart, Matawalle secured the commitment during his official working visit to the Czech Republic, where he inspected advanced military equipment and held strategic engagements with senior Czech military authorities.
Matawalle, who attended the Czech Air Force Days at Mošnov Airfield, Ostrava, was accompanied by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Sulaiman Halilu; Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer, Dr. Dahiru Muhammed; and other officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria.
During the event, the Minister, alongside the Chief Executive Officer of DEFCON, Peter Markvart, conducted a guided tour of exhibition stands showcasing advanced land and air military platforms.
Among the equipment inspected were the L-39 Skyfox Jet Trainer and Light Attack Aircraft and the L-410NG Multipurpose Transport Aircraft.
The delegation also inspected products manufactured by Colt CZ Group, including the BREN-2 and BREN-3 assault rifles, M4 and AR-15 rifles, EVO-3 sub-machine gun, various calibres of arms and ammunition, as well as ballistic protective equipment.
Matawalle also visited the stand of MESIT, where he was briefed on tactical communication radios and the VERA passive surveillance system.
The Chief Executives, Andrej Furin, Petr Holouk and Ivan Ivanov, briefed the Minister on the capabilities and operational functions of the various platforms and equipment displayed.
Matawalle, impressed by the technologies showcased, commended the companies for their commitment to developing advanced military equipment and platforms, stressing that Nigeria requires modern capabilities to strengthen ongoing efforts against terrorism and banditry.
The companies, in turn, assured the Minister of their readiness to provide and support Nigeria with modern platforms equipped with advanced technologies 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 strengthening military cooperation between Nigeria and the Czech Republic, particularly in training, equipment maintenance and the provision of technologically advanced platforms for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The Czech military chiefs expressed their readiness to provide the necessary support to assist the Nigerian Armed Forces in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry in parts of the country.
