Afrigather Nigeria, a nation grappling with extreme safety points, is actively exploring a novel avenue to fortify its protection capabilities. Current developments have seen Nigeria partaking in discussions with India’s prestigious aerospace producer, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, to import superior Tejas fighter jets.
This potential deal has the potential to reshape Nigeria’s protection technique and equip it to fight an array of safety threats.
Different nations presently within the combine
Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics, C. B. Ananthakrishnan, has confirmed these negotiations, shedding gentle on Nigeria’s quest to accumulate cutting-edge fighter jets from India.
Nonetheless, Nigeria isn’t the one nation within the combine, as discussions additionally embody different nations, together with Argentina, Egypt, and the Philippines. These developments underscore India’s rising affect within the international protection market.
Hindustan Aeronautics is actively increasing its worldwide footprint, with a give attention to establishing a extra distinguished presence in international markets. This consists of collaborating with the Nigerian Military Aviation and the Argentine Air Drive, providing very important coaching to officers, and supplying vital spare elements to help their exports.
Nigeria has been looking out for weaponry
Nigeria has traditionally sourced its army {hardware} from quite a lot of nations, together with america, Russia, Brazil, Pakistan, and China. In 2021, then-President Buhari revealed that Nigeria had expended roughly $1 billion on weaponry to counter the Boko Haram terrorist group and handle ongoing safety challenges.
As a part of this effort, Nigeria acquired 12 Tremendous Tucanos fighter jets from america, a big funding of practically $500 million. These plane performed a pivotal position in Nigeria’s battle in opposition to Boko Haram, which has stricken the northeastern area since 2009.
India units its exports to over $5 billion in income
Whereas exports presently account for simply 1% of Hindustan Aeronautics’ revenues, the Indian authorities, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is unwavering in its willpower to change this trajectory. Prime Minister Modi has set an audacious objective of attaining $5 billion in annual exports by the tip of the monetary yr in March 2025, with the export of Tejas fighter jets poised to play a pivotal position achieve this goal.
What to notice about Nigeria’s safety challenges
Current years have seen Nigeria grappling with further security challenges, together with banditry and kidnapping within the North-west and North-central areas. States like Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, and Zamfara have been on the epicenter of this violence.
Since 2017, separatist actions within the southeast have taken a violent flip, additional straining Nigeria’s already overburdened army forces.
In a latest growth, the Nigerian Air Drive unveiled an settlement with an Italian protection firm for the procurement of 24 M-346 Grasp plane. Valued at roughly €1.2 billion, these plane are slated for supply to the Nigerian Air Drive in 2024, marking a big leap ahead in Nigeria’s aerial capabilities and protection methods.
