The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has said that Nigeria’s plan to provide strategic SEALIFT capacity generation to the African Union Commission (AUC) is a demonstration of its Military capabilities.
He stated this during a meeting with the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the review of the Memorandum of Understanding on African Union Strategic Sealift Capacity at Ship House, Abuja,
Sealift is a term used predominantly in military logistics and refers to the use of cargo ships for the deployment of military assets, such as weaponry, vehicles, military personnel, and supplies to complement other means of transport.
According to a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike, the Minister said the move has further demonstrated Nigeria’s capabilities and capacity to contribute significantly to the movement of military equipment, heavy hardware, relief materials, and troops within the continent and beyond.
Dr. Matawalle empha
sized Nigeria’s leadership role in commanding and controlling the asset, as well as providing escort services while commending the committee’s efforts in achieving results that will showcase Nigeria’s capabilities to the world.
Furthermore, the Minister expressed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to projecting Nigeria’s efforts in the African Union peace and security initiatives, reaffirming Nigeria’s role in advancing collective security efforts across Africa.
Dr. Matawalle said the Ministry of Defence will support the committee to succeed in their task.
Ambassador Innocent A. Iwejuo, leader of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, thanked the Minister for the audience and briefed him on the reviewed draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between Nigeria and the AUC.
Furthermore, he said the purpose of the visit was to brief the Minister on the progress of work done on the MoU and the forthcoming visit of the representatives of AUC to Nigeria.
The Inter-Minister
ial Committee comprises representatives from the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to ECOWAS, ECOWAS National Unit, and the Nigerian Navy.
Source: Voice of Nigeria