The Nigerian Army has ordered for 10,000 ballistic vests and helmets from an indigenous company to kit its troops, especially those deployed in the fight against insurgency and other internal security operations.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai, gave the order for the supply of the vests on Monday in Osogbo, after inaugurating the Nigeria Machine Tools (NMT) ballistic production facility.
Buratai said that the local production of such military hardware would enable the army to provide its troops in the field with protective elements.
According to him, the company, based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the army, supplied 2,000 ballistic vests.
He added that the vests supplied by the NMT were of high quality and in line with international standard.
He urged sister security agencies to patronise indigenous companies to save hard currency, noting that the development of military industrial complex was key to the security architecture of a nation.
The army chief said that the industrial complex was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s thrust on security as it would give impetus to local production of military hardware through partnership.
He said, “The idea to collaborate with Nigeria Machine Tools was conceptualised in 2016 with a contract for supply of 2,000 ballistic vests.
“I am happy to note that the vests were delivered in spite of delay and some challenges.” (NAN)
