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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