Matawalle Secures Czech Support for Advanced Military Hardware

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has secured commitments from Czech defence companies and military authorities to support Nigeria with advanced military platforms and equipment to strengthen the fight against terrorism and banditry.

Matawalle made the push during his visit to the Czech Republic, where he attended the Czech Air Force Days at Mošnov Airfield, Ostrava, and inspected a range of modern military platforms and equipment.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Information Officer, Information and Public Relations, Queeneth Iheoma-Hart, the minister was accompanied by the Executive Vice Chairman/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), Dahiru Muhammed; and other officials from the Ministry of Defence and Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

During the visit, Matawalle, alongside the Chief Executive Officer of DEFCON, Peter Markvart, toured exhibition stands showcasing land and air defence platforms.

Among the platforms inspected were the L-39 Skyfox Jet Trainer and Light Attack Aircraft and the L-410NG Multipurpose Transport Aircraft.

The delegation also visited stands operated by Colt CZ Group, manufacturers of BREN-2, BREN-3, M4 and AR-15 assault rifles, EVO-3 sub-machine guns, arms and ammunition of various calibres, as well as ballistic protective equipment.

The delegation further inspected equipment manufactured by MESIT, including tactical radios and VERA passive surveillance systems.

The executives of the companies, Andrej Furin, Petr Holouk and Ivan Ivanov, briefed the minister on the capabilities and applications of their respective platforms and equipment.

Matawalle expressed appreciation for the advanced technologies on display and commended the companies for their commitment to developing modern defence equipment.

He said Nigeria required such advanced platforms to enhance the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.

The companies, in response, 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, particularly in training, equipment maintenance and the provision of technologically advanced platforms for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The Czech military authorities expressed their willingness to provide the necessary support to assist the Nigerian military in its ongoing operations against terrorism and banditry.