The Federal Government of Nigeria has entered into a strategic partnership with Turkish defense companies to fortify border security using cutting-edge technology, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
According to Samuel Ortom, the former governor of Benue State, this development suggests that Nigerian security agencies lack the necessary sophistication to effectively protect the country’s borders.
He noted that under his administration, Fulani herdsmen and unidentified armed individuals had managed to overwhelm both the state’s security apparatus and the Federal Government’s presence within the state.
The collaboration marks a continued strengthening of the military relationship between Nigeria and Turkish defense firms, a bond that has been evolving over the years.
According to reliable sources in the African defense and security sector, Turkish defense company ASISGUARD has secured a pivotal contract to provide an integrated border security solution for Nigeria.
This milestone agreement highlights the company’s profound expertise in defense technology while underscoring Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to enhancing its border security capabilities. The project encompasses a range of products designed for detection, command and control, and precautionary/intervention purposes.
At the heart of this contract lie ASISGUARD’s highly advanced Songar drones, which have gained international acclaim for their outstanding performance and reliability in diverse defense applications. These unmanned aerial vehicles are equipped with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, enabling them to autonomously detect, track, and neutralize targets with remarkable precision and efficiency.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time that Turkish ASISGUARD has been awarded a contract in Nigeria. In October of the previous year, the Turkish company supplied a minimum of 10 Songar armed drones to bolster Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts. The delivery of Songar systems to the Nigerian Police Force and Army was successfully completed on September 15, 2022.
This recent collaboration between Nigeria and Turkey is part of a broader defense partnership that began taking shape in January 2022. The discussions encompassed various aspects of defense collaboration, including support for counter-terrorism operations and the potential acquisition of military hardware such as attack helicopters, armed drones, and infantry systems.
In a parallel development, another Turkish firm, Havelsan, recently confirmed the export of its BAHA ‘Sub-Cloud Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’ to an undisclosed African nation, widely believed to be Nigeria.
This enduring military relationship has seen Turkey provide vital military hardware to support Nigeria’s efforts against Boko Haram terrorists and other armed groups. Upcoming deliveries include six T-129 attack helicopters from Turkish Aerospace Industries, two offshore patrol vessels from Dearsan, and six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Baykar.
Over recent years, the Nigerian military has forged strong ties with Turkish defense companies, securing a range of equipment from UAVs to offshore patrol vessels. This collaborative effort underscores Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to enhancing its security infrastructure and safeguarding its borders.