CDS: We Won't Rely On Foreign Technology To Fight Terrorism
Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin has stated that the country cannot rely entirely on foreign technology to defeat Islamist group, Boko Haram and tackle other security challenges.
The CDS made the comment at the Nigeria Air Force Research and Development Seminar 2015 with the theme: “Maximising potentials for self-reliance in Nigeria Air Force through innovation and local partnership”.
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According to The Nation, he said Nigeria was gifted with professionals, who were contributing positively to technology in different parts of the world.
He however lamented that lack of cooperation was responsible for the technological and industrial backwardness Nigeria was currently experiencing.
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He said: “There must be collaboration among the military, academia and of course the technocrats and industrialists to harness our various endowments to push Nigeria forward technologically.”.
While answering questions as regards the December deadline given to the military by President Muhammadu Buhari to defeat Boko Haram, after the event, the CDS said: “That is why we are encouraging research and development, so that we can be self-reliant in our production and in no distance future, we will get there. Research and development is a tripod arrangement: the user, manufacturer and academia.
“The three must synergise. So, we being the users need all the other legs so that we can get the products that are required to prosecute insurgency.
“We will reach out to local manufacturers to make sure that we inculcate them into the whole arrangement.
“We are winning the war against insurgency and we will keep doing that. We are working with timeline and we have our mandate and we are working within our mandate.
“Funding is usually an issue you have in any project. But if you are determined and focused, you will get along. Research and development is not a one-day issue. It is a gradual issue. So, as the funds come in, we will begin to improve on which ever project we are into.
“Nuclear energy is another form of energy. So, for us as a nation, we have all the institutions that have been put in place by government to develop our nuclear energy. In Obafemi Awolowo University, there is a centre for nuclear development, which is an outlet to make sure that we develop our nuclear capabilities.”
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Meanwhile, the Egyptian government has called for global cooperation to combat the heinous crime perpetrated by terrorists against humanity.
The country also expressed its willingness to support the Nigerian government in the fight against Boko Haram and terrorism.
Recall that over the weekend, Nigerian troops reportedly killed over 30 members of the sect in a gun battle on Sunday, October 18.
Source: Legit.ng
