– The United States (US) has started to fulfill its promise to aid Nigeria in the war against insurgency
– Through a US-Nigeria partnership, about 750 soldiers are to get professional training
– The US-Nigeria partnership will also help to rebuild the northeast of Nigeria
The United States of America on Wednesday, February 17, commenced at Jaji, Kaduna the training exercise of about 750 soldiers selected from various units of the Nigerian army.
PM News reports that the training was in fulfillment of the US’s promise to assist Nigeria combat Boko Haram insurgency.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 145 Battalion training, at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji, the US Ambassador James Entwistle, emphasised the need for other nations to join Nigeria fight against terrorism.
He said Nigeria cannot do it alone except with support from other experienced countries across the world.
The Ambassador stressed that the United States’ partnership with Nigeria in the area of personnel training is a right step and the best approach to addressing the prolonged Boko Haram attacks in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.
“Nigeria, U.S. partnership extends beyond immediate gains, we need to work together to rebuild the North-East. We are two great democracies and we do many great things together,” he noted.
In his speech, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin, who was also the special guest at the event, noted that the partnership between the US Army and Nigerian Armed Forces was strategically borne out of shared commitment to counter-terrorism and violent extremism.