Nigeria Inducts Locally Built Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles

The Nigerian Army has inducted eight EZUGWU Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles built locally by Command Engineering Depot (CED).

The equipment were inducted into Operations Lafiya Dole and Sahel Sanity. The vehicles are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device attacks and ambushes, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

“The combat vehicles have aided military operations against bandits and Boko Haram/ Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North East,” said Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.

A Smart Factory also called Additive Manufacturing Technology, Vehicles Assembly shop and Officers/Soldiers accommodation, were also inaugurated at CED.

The Nigerian Army initiated collaboration among CED, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and Buffalo Engineering Technical Services Ltd., to produce the local MRAPs. Additional defence logistic requirements produced through the collaboration include Light Armoured Tactical Vehicle, Special Patrol Vehicle, Mobile Field Bakery and Mobile Borehole Drilling Machine among others.

On October 30, Buratai inspected five newly manufactured MRAP vehicles, and checked repairs of damaged/malfunctioning vehicles.

In addition, Nigeria has manufactured a vehicle that can operated with a drone to conduct surveillance operations. “We have also manufactured a surveillance vehicle with a drone attached to it to enhance Nigerian Army’s operations,” the official said.