We are battle ready for any crisis – Defence Minister

As the nation continues to swim in the pool of insecurity, Defence Minister, Dr. Bello Mohammed, yesterday said the Armed Forces were battle ready to conquer all issues of insecurity both internal or external. Dr. Bello made this known in Abuja at the ministerial platform organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication. According to him, the state of combat readiness was achieved following the repairs and upgrading of a number of Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carriers for the Nigerian Army. He also said the acquisitions of the warship, NNS Thunder, and a number of Shaldag Fast Patrol Boats for the Navy, in addition to existing weaponry for the two services, had made them combat-ready. Dr. Bello however disclosed that the F7Ni Supersonic Jet fighter had been acquired by the Nigeria Air Force, even as M-35-Helicopters had been retrofitted, while Super Puma Helicopters and Alpha-jets had undergone upgrading and re-inducted. Mohammed said: “We (Ministry of Defence) have also refurbished some of our C-130H Aircraft in the NAF inventory.” He noted that government has ensured this by funding the requirements of the different arms of the military.