Trump begins inroad to Nigeria to oust China as US security chief visits NAF
Though the visit is the first United States of America’s military brass after the inauguration of ageless Billionaire Donald Trump as US President, followers of his US delivery tactics say he may have detailed the officer to look at the best way to tackle insurgency in other to pave way for meaningful partnership with Nigeria.
This is stemmed from the preliminary remarks made by the visiting Director of United States Defence Intelligence Agency, Lt Gen Vincent Stewart who led a delegation of US officials and diplomats to visit the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar at the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Abuja.
According to him, US has stepped up commitment to provide assistance towards countering terrorism and violent extremism in Nigeria.
Gen Stewart who visited strategic military institutions in Abuja said the visit is part of new moves to first foster existing bilateral military relations and security collaboration between the United States and Nigeria.
According to him, “I am here to better appreciate the challenges and opportunities in Nigeria and to strengthen existing strategic partnership”, he said while expressing the US appreciations for moves by Nigeria towards strengthening democratic principles and human rights. Speaking further, Lt Gen Stewart appreciated the effort and sacrifice of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the fight against insurgency while commiserating with the leadership of the NAF about the unfortunate incident of the accidental air strike in Rann, adding that the US will be willing to assist the NAF with its investigation in whatever capacity.
In his remarks, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar appealed to US to help Nigeria towards addressing the gap in the fight terrorism, saying “Whatever strategy you putting in place must address our gaps” the CAS said in his response, noting that the NAF is in need of Fighter Ground Attack (FGA) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to enhance its capability and effectiveness in fighting the Boko Haram insurgency”.
