In reaffirming its commitment to encourage participation of local manufacturers in developing Nigeria’s military-industrial complex, The Nigerian Army has gone into partnership with Nigeria first indigenous vehicle manufacturing company, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd based in Nnewi, Anambra State to conceptualize, design, modify and produce armored fighting vehicles and other military hardware.
This was made known yesterday, Tuesday 2nd January 2018 during a meeting between the management of Innoson Vehicles led by the Chairman, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma OFR and the leadership of the Nigerian Army led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai congratulated Innoson Vehicles for giant strides it has recorded in the production of various brands of vehicles lately. He said that the essence of the meeting was to further formalize the business relationship between the Nigerian Army and Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company.
The Chief of Army Staff recalled with delight that the Nigerian Army being patriotic and in a bid to encourage local entrepreneurs asked Innoson Vehicles to supply 3 vehicles early last year which were found to be durable and performing very well as they were employed in combat and proved to be useful, comfortable and convenient in military operations.
Based on that the Nigerian Army acquired over 70 more variants of the Innoson vehicles which were deployed in the North East for Operation LAFIYA DOLE. He further stated that the Nigerian Army desires to deepen its cooperation by partnering with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited to conceptualize, design, modify and produce military hardware.
The specific areas of partnership between the Nigerian Army and the company include; immediate supply 100 vehicles, the supply of appropriate gears, engines and chassis required for immediate modifications and repairs of armored fighting vehicles in the North East Theatre of Operations. Identifying requirements for production of the armored fighting vehicle in Nigerian Army Central Workshop in Kaduna and enhancing the capacity of Nigerian Army personnel to actively participate in the successful implementation of these joint ventures.
In his remarks, Innocent Chukwuma expressed happiness that the Nigerian Army has found his vehicles working perfectly and commended the Chief of Army Staff for his great sense of patriotism. He promised to assist the Nigerian Army in its quest for better vehicles for its troops and resuscitation of its Special Vehicle Plant and Workshops.
Dr. Innocent Chukwuma further thanked the Chief of Army Staff for the commendation, maintaining that his company would continue to improve and expand its capacity in vehicle manufacturing. He further appreciated the Nigerian Army for the patronage, describing the critical role the Nigerian Army is playing in national development through the fight against insurgency in the North East and Nigeria in general.
The highlight of the occasion was inspection and handing over of 3 of the newly manufactured vehicles by the company for trial by the Nigerian Army. These newly manufactured vehicles are; IVM G80 Bigger Jeep, IVM G40 Smaller Jeep, and IVM Granite Pickup.
It must also be noted that Innoson Vehicles in 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Air Force for the development and promotion of joint activities to sustain the maintenance of the Nigerian Air Force Air Assets and other associated Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) to enable the Nigerian Air Force to continuously carry out its constitutional obligations to the Nation.
