Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South and previously served as Senate Leader in the 8th National Assembly as well as Chief Whip in the 10th, spoke extensively in an interview with The Nigerian Tribune correspondent, about the country’s security challenges.
Drawing on his experience as a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, he addressed concerns about whether Nigeria can rely solely on its own forces without external military assistance.
When asked for his perspective on claims that Nigeria does not require foreign military assistance or mercenaries, as was the case during President Jonathan’s administration, Ndume drew on his experience as former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army to provide an insider’s view.
According to him, senior Army officials often insist they have the capacity to manage the situation, but the reality on the ground tells a different story.
He explained that the military lacks the necessary tools and resources: modern equipment is insufficient, training gaps persist, weaponry is inadequate, and personnel are not properly motivated. Beyond that, he said Nigeria suffers from weak intelligence capabilities, especially in terms of surveillance technology.
He noted that the country does not have meaningful satellite coverage and only enjoys minimal monitoring of its airspace. With functional satellite systems, he argued, the military’s cyber and intelligence units would be able to track movements; such as those of kidnapped victims or the location of fallen officers; in real time.
Instead, the armed forces rely on drones with short operational limits, which cannot provide round-the-clock intelligence across the country.
Ndume further stressed that Nigeria’s air power is far from what is required to confront the various security threats across different regions. Although the Army has started building its aviation wing, he said its current assets; such as the Super Tucano aircraft; are inadequate for the scale of the insurgency and banditry crises. In his view, Nigeria urgently needs attack helicopters and a fully equipped Army aviation system if it hopes to effectively counter the growing insecurity.
Further talking, he said, “With attack helicopters, ground troops can reach almost anywhere without needing an airport. They can run for hours and refuel anywhere with jet fuel. But we don’t have them. I understand the Nigerian Army ordered 12; only two have been manufactured and none delivered.
“The government needs to procure these things immediately. If not ready, we should consider getting them from other countries. That’s where the Russian Wagner option comes in.” View, More,
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