Why Nigeria, US military summit holding in Abuja, by Buratai

By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Nigeriaa��s Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has listed the benefits of the forthcoming United States Army African Command and the Nigerian Army jointl African Land Forces Summit. The event is slated for Monday, April 16 to Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Abuja.
Buratai told journalists in Abuja on Wednesday that the summit would afford military leaders of African countries the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships, develop new ways of tackling security challenges on the continent and further facilitate cooperation.
Represented by the Army Chief of Training and Operations, Maj-Gen. David Ahmadu, the COAS stated that the forum would afford participating countries the avenue to share experiences on global terrorism and forge common approaches to combating transnational threats and crimes such as small arms proliferation and terrorism
According to him, a�?a��as you are all aware, the Nigerian Army is constantly carrying out training activities and updating its personnel in line with her constitutional role to aid civil authorities in combating terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping, cultism, civil unrest, ethno religious crisis as well as other security challenges. The increased incidences of these challenges bedevilling the nation in recent time have become worrisome.
a�?It will also afford them the opportunity to interact with the aim of strengthening existing relationships and developing new ones.
a�?a��The summit is a landmark event which the Nigerian Army will be co-hosting with the US Army Africa (USARAF). It will provide the NA the forum to showcase its capabilities, project its image and military might to the largest gathering of African senior military leaders on the continent. This is in addition to providing a platform for countries to share experiences on global terrorism and other security challenges such as transnational threats and crime,a�? he said.
The exercise will hold at the 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada with rehearsals on 12th and 14th April, 2018, while the grand finale will take place on 17th April 2018.
Residents of the area have been advised to remain calm as safety measures had been put in place to protect life and property, he said.