The Nigerian Army has inducted eight units of locally made combat vehicles – Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) called EZUGWU.
Ezugwu means King of mountains in Igbo.
The vehicles designed to withstand improvised explosive device attacks and ambushes were manufactured by the Command Engineering Depot (CED), Kaduna.
They will be used in Operations Lafiya Dole and Sahel Sanity.
NAN reports the inauguration was held in Kaduna on Friday.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai said the equipment has aided battles against bandits, Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Buratai, represented by Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarham, the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), also inaugurated the Smart Factory (SF), a Vehicles Assembly shop and Officers/Soldiers accommodation at the CED.
He called the induction a clear testament to the commitment of the Nigerian Army to increase the depot’s industrial capacity to undertake in-depth Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI).’
“Today, one of the greatest challenges facing the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies is an outright reliance on importation of defense logistics from allies”, the chief said.
In December 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled Ezugwu in Kaduna.
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