Covert1:
Anticipated induction of new frigate to enhance the war fighting capability of the Nigerian Navy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cUMrmlc240

Confirmed .
Now focus will be on Country of Manufacture and type of Frigate.

In modern times the transforming of a country into a great power has traditionally coincided with the development of a powerful navy. The prestige associated with the Battleship led many countries to invest huge amounts of money into weapons platforms that they neither needed or in many cases could afford. A very good documentary series on the history of the platform can be found here. What made the acquisition of these weapons so attractive was that they were seen as an expression of national power.

In much the same way, nuclear weapons, nuclear submarines and aircraft carries now act as expressions of national power. It need not matter how old the carrier, the possession carrier is seen as mark that a state is important, that it is formidable and needs to be taken seriously; at least by those states that want to acquire them. As a result, states with little or no desire to project power, can end up fielding expensive carries and nuclear submarines.
Culled from Prestige And Naval Power

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU5jlUKrvEs
NNS Thunder Departing Sydney Australia

Yagz:
Why does the Nigerian Govt like buying capital millitary platforms peicemeal and in insufficient numbers?

Case in point - South Africa bought 4 Meko Valour Class frigates and 3 Type 209 submarines in one transaction. Egypt is buying FREMM Frigates and Mistral LPDs for fun ..not to talk of Gorwind and Meko Class corvettes. Algeria buys MEKO Class Valour frigates from Germany and corvettes from China in substantial numbers.

Nigeria is making noise over a sole destroyer as it's replacement Flagship? Haba!

There are 3 operational naval commands (Western, Eastern and Central). The Nigerian Navy should be given the funds to purchase at least 6 well armed OPVs (with missile capabilites), 3 Meko 200 'Valour' Class frigates with similar armaments as those purchased by Algeria and at least 2 Type 52D frigates from China.

Let's be absolutely clear- Nigeria currently has no navy, just a well equipped Coast Guard with a number of in-shore patrol craft (Shaldags, and OCEA PF72 patrol boats etc).

The hand-me-down Hamlilton Class ex -Us Coastgaurd long patrol vessels - NNS Thunder and NNS Okpbana, have no missile or ASW /ASuW capabilities whatseover. The OPVs purchased from China - NNS Century and NNS Unity have no missile, ASW or AsuW capabilies either- and these are supposed to be our capital ships NNS Aradu (our current Flag ship) for all intents and purposes has been reduced to a training vessel with all it's missile capabilites removed. The newly acquired NNS Lana is a Hydrographic Survey Vessel and is not armed.

Senegal is currently in the process of building naval vessels in France will soon (by 2022) have FACs with missile capabilites and thus become the only navy in West Africa with such vessels...and the Nigerian Navy ..sorry Coast Guard will then be caught napping!

The most likely reason Nigeria continues to buy military equipment in piecemeal numbers is down to money & funding.

If the funding is there, military procurements would be much better.

South-Africa - South-Africa bought all that military equipment using loans. In Egypt case, the army controls a huge proportion of the economy, procurements are made through loans and external funding partners like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Unlike South-Africa, Nigeria has never borrowed to fund the military, in many cases I think this is a right strategy, but the military could do with extra-budgetary funding and funding from other government agencies like in the case of NIMASA.

Nigeria has a well equipped Navy for the threats it currently faces, this is a fact. Our threats which are present and real are mainly from pirates, oil bunkering, sabotage and kidnapping at sea.

I don't see how buying a Frigate improves our capabilities to fight crime at sea.


Let's be absolutely clear - Nigeria has a moderately equipped Navy ( not a coast guard), the responsibility of our Navy is to protect Nigeria's territorial waters against external and internal aggressors and to ensure the free passage of trade and commerce at sea.


Egypt, South-Africa all use hand me downs, there is nothing wrong in accepting aide from super powers.

NNS Centenary and Unity have no missile capabilities because they were not purchased for firing missiles at pirates at sea.

Yes, NNS Centenary, Unity, Thunder, Okpabana and Prosperity are our capital ships. They were procured to fill roles required by the Nigerian navy and they are all doing that well.

NNS Lana is a Hydrographic ship, NNS Aradu ( poorly maintained) is far past it's prime. Hence a requirement for a replacement.

The Senegalese situation and the Nigerian situation are not the same thing, each country has it's own peculiar security need, with threats assessed and solutions fashioned to deal with these security assessments.

You don't make post for the sake of it, you need to understand the security situation of each individual country.

New Zealand does not have a Fighter Jet fleet.

You need to be better informed.

Yagz:
Greetings Tochex 101. I hail you!

Joscoflex - respectfully neither NNS Centenary or NNS Unity have missile capabilities.

Nigeria in it's 'penny wise pound foolish' wisdom, purchased the very basic export version of the Chinese Type 056 Corvette armed with only a 76 mm naval gun, 30mm and 20mm cannons. In Nigerian service they are classed as OPVs (P-18N).

The Algerian variant (currently under construction) as well as the versions purchased by Bangladesh are armed with missiles for ASuW. I guess you get what you pay for!

You're quite ill-informed, it's shocking to read.

Nigeria bought an Offshore Patrol Vessel based off the Type 056 Corvette. If we need a missile carrying corvette, we would have bought one.


Algeria does not have the Type-056 in service, Algeria has C28A corvettes in service.

No, you buy what you need. It's is ridiculous for a mother of 5 to buy a 2 door saloon car when she actually needs a mini-van.

LTGEN:

Confirmed .
Now focus will be on Country of Manufacture and type of Frigate.

Something for the lobbyists and planners to chew on. Not just a platform primarily for one mission but for the full spectrum of naval warfare. Focus should also be on a modular design to accommodate for the changing times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1rg3Qa3FpU

angola il76

Gentlemen, in an earlier post I had stated that:

'The Algerian variant (currently under construction) as well as the versions purchased by Bangladesh are armed with missiles for ASuW

Someone (who had not taken the trouble to read my post properly) responded by saying that I was quite 'ill-informed' because 'Algeria does not have the Type-056 in service, Algeria has C28A corvettes in service'

I would respectfully refer that 'someone' to the tag below:

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/06/lloyds-register-to-certify-chinese-built-corvette-for-algeria-and-lpd-for-thailand/

The Algerian Navy will take delivery of two Type 056 Corvettes (similar to our P-18N corvettes but much better armed) in 2022.

I am all for vigorous debates and having one's views and ideas challenged- but could the same be done in a mature manner without insults. Let's 'play the ball and not the man'. Thank you.

Yagz:
Gentlemen, in an earlier post I had stated that:

[ same be done in a mature manner without insults. Let's 'play the ball and not the man'. Thank you.

You don't come here throw tantrums, make unsubstantiated claims, cherry pick points and think we would all agree with you.

Stay off the kitchen if you can't stand the heat.

kabe1:


You don't come here throw tantrums, make unsubstantiated claims, cherry pick points and think we would all agree with you.

Stay off the kitchen if you can't stand the heat.

I’m all for robust conversations....keep it civil gentlemen.....

kabe1:


You don't come here throw tantrums, make unsubstantiated claims, cherry pick points and think we would all agree with you.

Stay off the kitchen if you can't stand the heat.

Oga which one is this aggression

kabe1:


You don't come here throw tantrums, make unsubstantiated claims, cherry pick points and think we would all agree with you.

Stay off the kitchen if you can't stand the heat.

Lol. He's always like that if you know him well.

Sukhoi 30 Algerian AF .

pics from this month exercise

chkil again

Mig 29 M2 algerian AF

Kilo 636 M submarine , Algerian navy

Aero L-39 Algerian AF

ilyushin 76 TD Algerian AF

mi 28 NE with Mi 24 MKIII algerian AF

KDF Humvee on the highway heading to Somalia

Flanker:
mi 28 NE with Mi 24 MKIII algerian AF

Wonder why the designers have the exhausts facing down

Nemesis4you:


Wonder why the designers have the exhausts facing down

according to some sources its called the Exhaust-heat suppressor or screen- exhaust used to reduce the amount of IR energy emitted. This is effective protection against Heat seeking missiles , as it minimises the heat signature . specially with russian helicopter attack style with very low fly adapted to the contours and cover of the ground, for avoiding enemy detection and fire. The engine exhaust gases are deflected and diluted in the downward direction. In this direction, the exhaust gases attain natural cover provided by the reliefs of terrain,vegetation, and structures; making IR detection and attack difficult .

first mi-28 prototypes hadn't this system


pic 1.2 : the exhaust heat suppressor number 45 on the design pic
pic 3 : the first prototype without it

Isotex MRAPs delivered to the Frontlines

Not again!!!

I mistakenly unfollowed this thread many weeks ago and I'm just noticing now. I have been wondering why I'm not seeing many regular posters again.

Flanker:



according to some sources its called the Exhaust-heat suppressor or screen- exhaust used to reduce the amount of IR energy emitted. This is effective protection against Heat seeking missiles , as it minimises the heat signature . specially with russian helicopter attack style with very low fly adapted to the contours and cover of the ground, for avoiding enemy detection and fire. The engine exhaust gases are deflected and diluted in the downward direction. In this direction, the exhaust gases attain natural cover provided by the reliefs of terrain,vegetation, and structures; making IR detection and attack difficult .

first mi-28 prototypes hadn't this system


pic 1.2 : the exhaust heat suppressor number 45 on the design pic
pic 3 : the first prototype without it

I guess the designers made a calculated choice based on the intended operational usage

IR suppressors are used in every modern combat helicopter but choice of exhaust venting varies as per designer / op usage

LCH is intended primarily for high altitude combat so i am guessing reason why exhaust is directed up at the rotors for further dissipation by the rotors

Mi28 is i guess primarily intended for low altitude combat so it makes sense to direct the exhaust downwards for dissipation among the ground clutter as you said

Thanks for the info

So this is my last post on NL .. For the time being anyway

just want to say thanks to all the oaks that made the thread what it is since I joined 7 years ago!

To the new guard @kabe1and @lurker4long.... Keep up the good work!!!

Cheers!!

Who was this

Xbee007:

Who was this

Jln115

kabe1:


Jln115

Wow! Gonna miss him.

The Ministry of Defence has purchased equipment for the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Defence Intelligence Agency worth $99.5m (N37.9bn), out of the $1bn approved by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Sunday PUNCH can authoritatively report.


Buhari had told the National Assembly in 2018 that he ordered the payment of $496m to the United States Government for the purchase of 12 Tucano aircraft ahead of legislative approval to withdraw the $1bn fund from the Excess Crude Account.

Documents obtained by our correspondent showed that the Ministry of Defence subsequently awarded contracts worth a total of $99,538,467.23 for the military equipment.

The ‘Certificate of No Objection for Award of Contract’ issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement (Ref No. BPP/S.1/Vol.XV/19/114), dated January 16, 2020, referred to the source of funding for the military hardware as “$1bn under the Intervention Fund subject to Mr President’s approval,” while indicating that the Ministry of Defence was the implementing ministry/agency.

The document was signed by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu; and BPP Director, Compliance, Certification and Monitoring, Ishaq Yahaya.

The Ministry of Defence, on September 17, 2018, also approved a ‘Letter of Award of Contract for the Procurement of Critical Equipment – Two Types of Vehicles, Reutech Surveillance Equipment, Three Types of Weapons and Three Types of Ammunitions for the Nigerian Navy’ (Ref No. MOD/PROC/SIF/2018/1/2).

Items listed under the ‘Vehicles’ category included 10 units of T-90 Tank Second Generation ($43.68m), and 10 units of BREM-4 Armoured Recovery ($20,794,619.56).

Under ‘Surveillance Equipment,’ the document quoted 20 units of Ground Surveillance Radar equipment – Reutech ($7,041,245.91), while the ‘Weapons’ category comprised 20 units of 81mm mortar ($1,050,600), 120 units of MG-127-DSHK-M guns ($2,715,553.80), and 2,012 units of AKMS rifles ($1,608,151.36).

Under ‘Ammunitions,’ the items listed included 8,141 units of 81mm Mortar Bombs ($9,955,615.97), 1,103,000 rounds of 12.7mmx108mm Cartridges ($7,157,367), and 3,259 units of 122mm Grad (Rocket) ($5,535,313.73).

However, in a letter with Ref No. MOD/PROC/SIF/2018/1/2 dated February 5, 2020, the ministry sought to replace the $43.68m T-90 tanks in the previous document with a new list of items for the same amount.


The document is titled ‘Letter for Award of Contract for the Procurement of Critical Equipment for the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Defence Intelligence Agency: Replacement of the 10 T-90 Tanks with 60 Legion MRAP Including DSHK Guns, Codan HF Vehicular Radio and Automatic Turret with Pre-Shipment Inspection; and 24 Phantom II APC Including Pre-Shipment Inspection, Complete with Spares, Training and Maintenance.’

Under the ‘Legion MRAP’ category, the document listed 60 units each of Legion MRAP vehicles ($475,587.42), 12.7mm DSHK AA Guns ($18,750), Codan Radios ($6,920), and Armoured Turrets ($29,631).

Under the ‘Phantom II APC’ category, the document listed 24 units each of Phantom II Armoured Personnel Carriers ($385,208.67), 12.7mm DSHK AA Guns ($18,750), Codan ($6,920), and Turret ($29,631).

The sub-totals of the Legion MRAP ($530,888.42) and Phantom II APC ($440,509.67) added up to $971,398.09. However, the total contract sum was put at $43,680,000, including ‘Total for MRAP and Phantom II APC including pre-shipment inspection’ ($42,425,537.10), and ‘Balance for Spares + Training + Maintenance’ ($1,254,462.90).

Further investigation showed that several shipments of some of the listed equipment were obtained by the military with certificates of delivery issued by Brig-Gen B.A. Ilori or Brig-Gen M.T. Jinadu, for the Chief of Army Staff.

According to one letter dated May 29, 2019, the Nigerian Army, in Abuja on May 20 and 22, 2019, took delivery of 2012 AKMS rifles, 70 DSHK 12.7mm guns, 250 CZ 75 pistols and 550 units of 122mm Grad rockets.

In another document dated November 29, 2019, the Army confirmed receipt of 3,259 122mm Grad rockets, 20 40x46mm LV HE cartridges, 160 7.62mmx54mm ball-rimmed cartridges, 167 7.62mmx51mm metal link cartridges, and 30,939 7.62mmx39mm ball special cartridges.

Also, a letter dated January 31, 2020, indicated the delivery of 20 GSRS through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on December 26, 2019. Another dated September 3, 2020, said the Army received 84 DSHK guns on August 11, 2020, and “found to be new and suitable for operational use.”

While a January 5, 2021 letter showed that the Army took receipt of 24 Phantom II APCs on December 14, 2020, another dated January 6, 2021 said 589,337 rounds of 12.7mmx108mm cartridges were delivered on December 12, 2020 and found to be “new and suitable.”

A document dated March 23, 2021, also confirmed the delivery of 20 81mm mortars and 8,141 81mm mortar bombs were delivered on September 18, 2020.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that several items had yet to be delivered as international flights came to a standstill owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Government finally lifted the restriction on flights in September 2020, six months after the ban took effect.

A Supplementary Agreement between the Federal Government and the contractor dated August 12, 2020 said, “Further execution of the contract has been stalled since February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the embargo on international flights that has prevented the carrying out of the mandatory pre-shipment inspection by the authorised representatives of the buyer (Federal Government).”

Based on the contract awarded by the defence ministry, the items yet to be delivered include 10 BREM-4 Armoured Recovery vehicles ($20,794,619.56), 50 MG-127-DSHK-M guns ($1,131,480.75), 513,663 12.7x108mm cartridges ($3,333,159.21), 84 Codan radios ($13,840), and 84 Armoured Turrets ($59,262). The total cost of the remaining items is $25,332,361.52.

Fascinating that the NA would look at the T-90 over an upgraded T72
The Ground Surveillance Systems ( Radar) Reutech would most likely come S’ Africa.

Toju200:

The Ministry of Defence has purchased equipment for the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Defence Intelligence Agency worth $99.5m (N37.9bn), out of the $1bn approved by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Sunday PUNCH can authoritatively report.


Buhari had told the National Assembly in 2018 that he ordered the payment of $496m to the United States Government for the purchase of 12 Tucano aircraft ahead of legislative approval to withdraw the $1bn fund from the Excess Crude Account.

Documents obtained by our correspondent showed that the Ministry of Defence subsequently awarded contracts worth a total of $99,538,467.23 for the military equipment.

The ‘Certificate of No Objection for Award of Contract’ issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement (Ref No. BPP/S.1/Vol.XV/19/114), dated January 16, 2020, referred to the source of funding for the military hardware as “$1bn under the Intervention Fund subject to Mr President’s approval,” while indicating that the Ministry of Defence was the implementing ministry/agency.

The document was signed by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu; and BPP Director, Compliance, Certification and Monitoring, Ishaq Yahaya.

The Ministry of Defence, on September 17, 2018, also approved a ‘Letter of Award of Contract for the Procurement of Critical Equipment – Two Types of Vehicles, Reutech Surveillance Equipment, Three Types of Weapons and Three Types of Ammunitions for the Nigerian Navy’ (Ref No. MOD/PROC/SIF/2018/1/2).

Items listed under the ‘Vehicles’ category included 10 units of T-90 Tank Second Generation ($43.68m), and 10 units of BREM-4 Armoured Recovery ($20,794,619.56).

Under ‘Surveillance Equipment,’ the document quoted 20 units of Ground Surveillance Radar equipment – Reutech ($7,041,245.91), while the ‘Weapons’ category comprised 20 units of 81mm mortar ($1,050,600), 120 units of MG-127-DSHK-M guns ($2,715,553.80), and 2,012 units of AKMS rifles ($1,608,151.36).

Under ‘Ammunitions,’ the items listed included 8,141 units of 81mm Mortar Bombs ($9,955,615.97), 1,103,000 rounds of 12.7mmx108mm Cartridges ($7,157,367), and 3,259 units of 122mm Grad (Rocket) ($5,535,313.73).

However, in a letter with Ref No. MOD/PROC/SIF/2018/1/2 dated February 5, 2020, the ministry sought to replace the $43.68m T-90 tanks in the previous document with a new list of items for the same amount.


The document is titled ‘Letter for Award of Contract for the Procurement of Critical Equipment for the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Defence Intelligence Agency: Replacement of the 10 T-90 Tanks with 60 Legion MRAP Including DSHK Guns, Codan HF Vehicular Radio and Automatic Turret with Pre-Shipment Inspection; and 24 Phantom II APC Including Pre-Shipment Inspection, Complete with Spares, Training and Maintenance.’

Under the ‘Legion MRAP’ category, the document listed 60 units each of Legion MRAP vehicles ($475,587.42), 12.7mm DSHK AA Guns ($18,750), Codan Radios ($6,920), and Armoured Turrets ($29,631).

Under the ‘Phantom II APC’ category, the document listed 24 units each of Phantom II Armoured Personnel Carriers ($385,208.67), 12.7mm DSHK AA Guns ($18,750), Codan ($6,920), and Turret ($29,631).

The sub-totals of the Legion MRAP ($530,888.42) and Phantom II APC ($440,509.67) added up to $971,398.09. However, the total contract sum was put at $43,680,000, including ‘Total for MRAP and Phantom II APC including pre-shipment inspection’ ($42,425,537.10), and ‘Balance for Spares + Training + Maintenance’ ($1,254,462.90).

Further investigation showed that several shipments of some of the listed equipment were obtained by the military with certificates of delivery issued by Brig-Gen B.A. Ilori or Brig-Gen M.T. Jinadu, for the Chief of Army Staff.

According to one letter dated May 29, 2019, the Nigerian Army, in Abuja on May 20 and 22, 2019, took delivery of 2012 AKMS rifles, 70 DSHK 12.7mm guns, 250 CZ 75 pistols and 550 units of 122mm Grad rockets.

In another document dated November 29, 2019, the Army confirmed receipt of 3,259 122mm Grad rockets, 20 40x46mm LV HE cartridges, 160 7.62mmx54mm ball-rimmed cartridges, 167 7.62mmx51mm metal link cartridges, and 30,939 7.62mmx39mm ball special cartridges.

Also, a letter dated January 31, 2020, indicated the delivery of 20 GSRS through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on December 26, 2019. Another dated September 3, 2020, said the Army received 84 DSHK guns on August 11, 2020, and “found to be new and suitable for operational use.”

While a January 5, 2021 letter showed that the Army took receipt of 24 Phantom II APCs on December 14, 2020, another dated January 6, 2021 said 589,337 rounds of 12.7mmx108mm cartridges were delivered on December 12, 2020 and found to be “new and suitable.”

A document dated March 23, 2021, also confirmed the delivery of 20 81mm mortars and 8,141 81mm mortar bombs were delivered on September 18, 2020.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that several items had yet to be delivered as international flights came to a standstill owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Government finally lifted the restriction on flights in September 2020, six months after the ban took effect.

A Supplementary Agreement between the Federal Government and the contractor dated August 12, 2020 said, “Further execution of the contract has been stalled since February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the embargo on international flights that has prevented the carrying out of the mandatory pre-shipment inspection by the authorised representatives of the buyer (Federal Government).”

Based on the contract awarded by the defence ministry, the items yet to be delivered include 10 BREM-4 Armoured Recovery vehicles ($20,794,619.56), 50 MG-127-DSHK-M guns ($1,131,480.75), 513,663 12.7x108mm cartridges ($3,333,159.21), 84 Codan radios ($13,840), and 84 Armoured Turrets ($59,262). The total cost of the remaining items is $25,332,361.52.

naija na una sabi.if they award proforce the contract for MRAP & APC would nigeria seize to exist?

Toju200:

The Ministry of Defence has purchased equipment for the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Defence Intelligence Agency worth $99.5m (N37.9bn), out of the $1bn approved by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Sunday PUNCH can authoritatively report.


Buhari had told the National Assembly in 2018 that he ordered the payment of $496m to the United States Government for the purchase of 12 Tucano aircraft ahead of legislative approval to withdraw the $1bn fund from the Excess Crude Account.

Documents obtained by our correspondent showed that the Ministry of Defence subsequently awarded contracts worth a total of $99,538,467.23 for the military equipment.

The ‘Certificate of No Objection for Award of Contract’ issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement (Ref No. BPP/S.1/Vol.XV/19/114), dated January 16, 2020, referred to the source of funding for the military hardware as “$1bn under the Intervention Fund subject to Mr President’s approval,” while indicating that the Ministry of Defence was the implementing ministry/agency.

The document was signed by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu; and BPP Director, Compliance, Certification and Monitoring, Ishaq Yahaya.

The Ministry of Defence, on September 17, 2018, also approved a ‘Letter of Award of Contract for the Procurement of Critical Equipment – Two Types of Vehicles, Reutech Surveillance Equipment, Three Types of Weapons and Three Types of Ammunitions for the Nigerian Navy’ (Ref No. MOD/PROC/SIF/2018/1/2).

Items listed under the ‘Vehicles’ category included 10 units of T-90 Tank Second Generation ($43.68m), and 10 units of BREM-4 Armoured Recovery ($20,794,619.56).

Under ‘Surveillance Equipment,’ the document quoted 20 units of Ground Surveillance Radar equipment – Reutech ($7,041,245.91), while the ‘Weapons’ category comprised 20 units of 81mm mortar ($1,050,600), 120 units of MG-127-DSHK-M guns ($2,715,553.80), and 2,012 units of AKMS rifles ($1,608,151.36).

Under ‘Ammunitions,’ the items listed included 8,141 units of 81mm Mortar Bombs ($9,955,615.97), 1,103,000 rounds of 12.7mmx108mm Cartridges ($7,157,367), and 3,259 units of 122mm Grad (Rocket) ($5,535,313.73).

However, in a letter with Ref No. MOD/PROC/SIF/2018/1/2 dated February 5, 2020, the ministry sought to replace the $43.68m T-90 tanks in the previous document with a new list of items for the same amount.


The document is titled ‘Letter for Award of Contract for the Procurement of Critical Equipment for the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Defence Intelligence Agency: Replacement of the 10 T-90 Tanks with 60 Legion MRAP Including DSHK Guns, Codan HF Vehicular Radio and Automatic Turret with Pre-Shipment Inspection; and 24 Phantom II APC Including Pre-Shipment Inspection, Complete with Spares, Training and Maintenance.’

Under the ‘Legion MRAP’ category, the document listed 60 units each of Legion MRAP vehicles ($475,587.42), 12.7mm DSHK AA Guns ($18,750), Codan Radios ($6,920), and Armoured Turrets ($29,631).

Under the ‘Phantom II APC’ category, the document listed 24 units each of Phantom II Armoured Personnel Carriers ($385,208.67), 12.7mm DSHK AA Guns ($18,750), Codan ($6,920), and Turret ($29,631).

The sub-totals of the Legion MRAP ($530,888.42) and Phantom II APC ($440,509.67) added up to $971,398.09. However, the total contract sum was put at $43,680,000, including ‘Total for MRAP and Phantom II APC including pre-shipment inspection’ ($42,425,537.10), and ‘Balance for Spares + Training + Maintenance’ ($1,254,462.90).

Further investigation showed that several shipments of some of the listed equipment were obtained by the military with certificates of delivery issued by Brig-Gen B.A. Ilori or Brig-Gen M.T. Jinadu, for the Chief of Army Staff.

According to one letter dated May 29, 2019, the Nigerian Army, in Abuja on May 20 and 22, 2019, took delivery of 2012 AKMS rifles, 70 DSHK 12.7mm guns, 250 CZ 75 pistols and 550 units of 122mm Grad rockets.

In another document dated November 29, 2019, the Army confirmed receipt of 3,259 122mm Grad rockets, 20 40x46mm LV HE cartridges, 160 7.62mmx54mm ball-rimmed cartridges, 167 7.62mmx51mm metal link cartridges, and 30,939 7.62mmx39mm ball special cartridges.

Also, a letter dated January 31, 2020, indicated the delivery of 20 GSRS through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on December 26, 2019. Another dated September 3, 2020, said the Army received 84 DSHK guns on August 11, 2020, and “found to be new and suitable for operational use.”

While a January 5, 2021 letter showed that the Army took receipt of 24 Phantom II APCs on December 14, 2020, another dated January 6, 2021 said 589,337 rounds of 12.7mmx108mm cartridges were delivered on December 12, 2020 and found to be “new and suitable.”

A document dated March 23, 2021, also confirmed the delivery of 20 81mm mortars and 8,141 81mm mortar bombs were delivered on September 18, 2020.

Sunday PUNCH gathered that several items had yet to be delivered as international flights came to a standstill owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Federal Government finally lifted the restriction on flights in September 2020, six months after the ban took effect.

A Supplementary Agreement between the Federal Government and the contractor dated August 12, 2020 said, “Further execution of the contract has been stalled since February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the embargo on international flights that has prevented the carrying out of the mandatory pre-shipment inspection by the authorised representatives of the buyer (Federal Government).”

Based on the contract awarded by the defence ministry, the items yet to be delivered include 10 BREM-4 Armoured Recovery vehicles ($20,794,619.56), 50 MG-127-DSHK-M guns ($1,131,480.75), 513,663 12.7x108mm cartridges ($3,333,159.21), 84 Codan radios ($13,840), and 84 Armoured Turrets ($59,262). The total cost of the remaining items is $25,332,361.52.

How is the cost of an 81mm mortar round over $1,000?
I'm surprised no one said anything about it