[allAfrica.com]  [Africa_2004]


Nigeria At Risk of Aggression - Oritsejafor

This Day (Lagos)
NEWS
July 28, 2004
Posted to the web July 28, 2004

By Funmi Peter-Omale
Jos
Minister of State for Defence, Dr Roland Oritsejafor, has said Nigeria is at
risk of being a likely target of enemy aggression and sabotage because of its
foreign policy, especially in Africa.
Oritsejafor said this at a lecture titled, "National Defence Policy Objectives"
delivered at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS),
Kuru, near Jos yesterday.
According to the minister, though the country's policy of good neighbourliness
and principle of non-interference, have contributed to the relative peace in
the continent, there are other areas of potential threats bordering on geo-
political issues.
"One of the most serious areas of threats relates to the country's porous
borders that are often not well defined. Until these borders are properly
defined, demarcated and protected, Nigeria will operate on the basis of the
expectation of threats in the form of border violations, conflicting
territorial claims, border conflicts and possible blockade of her sea lane of
communication," he said.
Oritsejafor warned that besides direct attack by adversaries, there are
indirect military threats posed by activities of some foreign powers in Africa.
His words: "It is possible for these powers to use the territories of Nigeria's
contiguous neighbours as staging posts for hostile activities against her."
He thus suggested a deliberate policy of establishing a "sphere of influence"
in the sub-region. "To be able to effectively counter any act of subversion or
sabotage from whichever source, it is imperative to articulate well-defined
defence policy objectives," he said.
Oritsejafor said the policy thrust of the present administration is directed at
creating compact, highly mobile, well-trained, well-equipped, well-maintained
and highly motivated armed forces.
"The general idea is to replace sheer numbers with firepower and technology."
He lamented that Nigeria's military capability compared to international
settings was inadequate in many respects.
"Nigeria, at present neither has the capacity nor the capability to produce and
to meet the weapons and equipment needs of her military even though the
potential exists to do so."

   

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