Giant Stride By The Army

President Buhari launches the first locally made armored vehicles named Ezugwu MRAP, among others


The Nigerian Army has made remarkable progress in weapon manufacturing with President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurating the first set of armoured vehicles made locally. The products consist of combat and light vehicles manufactured at the Nigerian Army Command Engineering Depot in partnership with Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in Kaduna. The Mine Resistance Ambush Protected (MRAP) named Ezugwu MRAP vehicles were unveiled at the opening of the 2019 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference held recently in Kaduna. The theme of the conference was: “Application of the Cutting Edge of the Nigerian Army in Tackling Contemporary Security Challenges”.

The vehicles, which, included five Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) nicknamed, “Ezugwu MRAP” and a number of infantry patrol vehicles were manufactured by Nigerian army engineers and their indigenous partners, notably the Defence Corporation of Kaduna. While commending the innovative prowess of the Army, Buhari said that it was encouraging to note that the Army as a critical element of national power was involved in innovative and inventive ventures. He said that working for a sustainable and secured environment was a major priority for his administration.

The President commended the collaborative effort of the Command Engineering Depot with relevant indigenous organisations to promote local content towards the development of the military industrial complex. According to President Buhari, “I am glad with the production of Ezugwu MRAP with other infantry patrol vehicles that were earlier produced as testimony that our efforts are yielding positive results”. “There is no doubt that a lot has been achieved by the army since my assumption of office as the president and commander in chief of the Armed Forces.”

Buhari said that his administration had continued to provide resources to enable the army carry out projects with the sole aim of modernizing it and be better positioned to perform its constitutional roles. The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd), said the government was aware of the needs of the army to be able to perform its constitutional roles effectively, adding that the conference was intended to appraise and evaluate the operational activities of the army over the years to enable them identify areas of improvement. He assured that the government would continue to prioritise the welfare of the military personnel who have sacrificed their lives to defend the country. Magashi commended the president for his commitment to enhancing the capacity of the armed forces.

Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that the vehicles were innovative and inventive products of Nigerian army’s research and development of its military industrial complex. Buratai disclosed that the Ezugwu MRAP was an entirely indigenous production effort from start to finish by the team of Nigerian army engineers and their partners. He said that the Ezugwu MRAP was versatile in the counter insurgency and other military operations in the country, adding that MRAP would pose great threat to adversaries. According to him, the vehicles have been tested in the various theatres of operations against Boko Haram insurgents as well as Birnin Gwari area against bandits. “We are delighted to showcase to Mr. President our innovative and inventive products so far achieved through robust research and development efforts drives through building our own military industrial complex.

“We are indeed honoured and delighted to have you in our midst to unveil the Ezugwu MRAP which is an entirely indigenous production effort from start to finish” he added. He added: “We are also delighted for the commissioning of the upgraded 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital. “The hospital has been upgraded to the UN Ultramodern Level 4 hospital in Nigeria that will cater for the medical needs of our troops and other citizens alike.

According to the Chief of Army Staff, “These two projects will no doubt save significant foreign exchange of the country which could be used for other developmental purposes.” EZUGWU MRAP, the 4×4 Armoured Vehicle is designed to carry out transportation in smooth and rough terrain. It has capability to assault with high volume of fire.

Its primary armament includes a 12.7 mm Anti-Aircraft Gun and a 7.62 mm Light Machine Gun. It is good for counter-terrorism, maintenance of stability and also a perfect vehicle for urban warfare. Captain Abdulrasheed Ahmed of the Nigerian Army Operations Media earlier in a statement said that the vehicle is characterized by good protection performance, strong cross-country capability, high reliability, easy maintenance, and can operate in severe cold as well as sweltering desert areas. It carries a crew of 12: commander, driver, two gunners and eight soldiers.