BHT: WE ARE ON NIGERIA’S SIDE TO TACKLE TERRORITS- GERMAN MINISTER

BHT: WE ARE ON NIGERIA’S SIDE TO TACKLE TERRORITS- GERMAN MINISTER

The German Deputy Defence Minister, Dr. Ralf Brauksiepe has said that Germany is on the side of Nigeria in her determination to curtail Boko Haram insurgents.
He pledged his country’s total commitment to the Nigerian Armed Forces in their quest to defeat the violent terrorist group in country.
Dr Brauksiepe disclosed this when he visited the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja to further boost the German – Nigeria’s military bilateral relations.
While congratulating the CDS for the tremendous success recorded in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North East of Nigeria, Dr Brauksiepe also observed that the Nigerian Armed Forces has displayed exceptional competence and professionalism in the fight against insurgents and criminal elements in line with global best practices.
The Deputy Defence Minister further expressed his country’s determination to explore avenues of common economic and security interest that may benefit both countries especially in the area of curbing sea piracy within the gulf of Guinea.
General Olonisakin noted that the Nigerian military has over the years benefited a lot from the German Government through various military aids and therefore solicited for more support from the German Government in the area of provision of logistic support, intelligence gathering and technical assistance for the Multi-national Joint Task Force established to checkmate terrorists network in the West African sub-region.
He said Nigerian military would no doubt continue to partner with German military on defence related matters to enhance the bilateral cooperation which has been in existence for over 5 decades.
The German Deputy Defence Minister was accompanied by the German Ambassador to Nigeria, the Defence Attachee and some senior military officials from Berlin, while the CDS received the German delegation in company of his Principal Staff Officers.
Meanwhile, the German Minister has also said that Germany has increased its 2016 Defence budget to enable it to expand the scope of its military cooperation with Africa.
Delivering a lecture at the National Defence College titled `German Military Cooperation with Africa.’
Brauksiepe said the development would enable Germany expand the scope of its military engagements in Africa as part of the global campaign to curb terrorism and piracy.

He said the German defence support in Africa cuts across different spheres including, education, training, troop’s deployment and provision of materials.

“The German Defence budget in 2016 has increased and this is to ensure that Germany invests more in defence than it used to do in the past decades.

“As a result of this there is going to be growing engagements of German defence forces in Mali, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Liberia and other countries.

“This is in realization of the fact Germany appreciates peace and abhors violent conflict that causes destruction and misery around the world, we as Germans have enjoyed the peace dividends since our unification hence our contribution to global peace.’’

“Brauksiepe made clarifications about Germany’s method of troop’s deployment for international missions noting that Germany had tremendous respect for Nigeria particularly in its efforts to contain terrorism within its territory and in the West African sub-region.

He explained that presently there is no international mandate for Nigeria from the German government and German troops do not go to places they are not invited.

“It has a broad scope, there are mandated missions that we are involved in, there is the possibility to give help to education and training; there is the area of material support.

“The scope of the defence cooperation with Nigeria, for instance, is to help build Nigeria’s capability to play a constructive role in the sub region’s security affairs.

“We deploy our troops according to internationally mandated decisions by the United Nations, the decision of the German government and the approval of the German parliament.

“No Nigerian government representative has requested for assistance from German troops, we appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian government through its armed force in the war against terrorism.

“We appreciate Nigeria’s own efforts to solve the country’s security challenges, so there is no application or request for German troops to come to Nigeria,’’ he said.

The minister hailed efforts behind the formation of the Multi National Joint Task Force to fight terrorism in troubled parts of the sub-region, assuring that Germany would, in the coming months, improve on its support to fight crimes in Africa particularly the activities of pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.

END.