The Federal Government, yesterday, gave reason for the
cancellation of the training of Nigerian soldiers by American security experts,
attributing it to logistic problem.The U.S. Government, through its Embassy in
Abuja on Monday said in a statement that “At the request of the Nigerian
government, the United States will discontinue its training of a Nigerian Army
battalion.”But Nigerian government explained that it did not cancel the
training, but that the condition placed down by US government was not healthy
for the security of lives and property of its citizens, particularly those in
the north east region.The conditions, according to it, include withdrawing of
some military equipment from the battle field, so that the American could use
them to train the soldiers.The Coordinator of the National Information Centre,
Mr. Mike Omeri, who stated this during a routine briefing on security situation
in the country, in Abuja, said the government would not expose its citizens at
the mercy of insurgents because it wants to train its solders.However, Omeri
maintained that the two countries were not at variance as being insinuated by
some people in the country. “Nigeria and America have strong military relation
till date. It’s still ongoing and strong,” he said, disclosing that Nigerian
soldiers had concluded two phases of the training out of the three.Omeri
explained that the third phase had to do with logistical components which the
Americas did not provide but instead relied on Nigerian Military equipments, which
was currently in use in the troubled states.
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