The Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Joana Tarnawska, has expressed the readiness of the government of Poland to deepen the existing bilateral military cooperation between the country and Nigeria.
Tarnawska stated this during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt -Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru on Thursday in Abuja.
She said that Poland and Nigeria had maintained a cordial and mutually beneficial bilateral relations for many decades.
She said that Poland considered Nigeria as an important country in the world, adding that the security challenges facing Nigeria was also affecting other parts of the world, including Poland.
The ambassador also expressed the readiness of her country to cooperate with Nigeria in tackling the prevailing security challenges it currently faced.
“We acknowledge how much has already been done and I will like to convey best wishes to all those involved in all the difficulties and challenges.
“Our countries have cooperated for many decades, our cooperation and bilateral relations are very friendly and I am here to explore new avenues of cooperation in the defence sector so that both countries may benefit.
“I will like to say that the friendly rations are based on good cooperation on trust between our countries and on the fact that both countries have men and women who are ready to serve their nations with courage and commitment,” she said.
Responding, the Chief of Army Staff, Attahiru, said that Nigerian Army had warm and cordial long standing relationship with Poland, adding that it intended to sustain the relationship in the area of defence and security.
Attahiru expressed appreciation to the government of Poland for considering to sell high quality armament and military equipment to Nigeria.
He said that Nigerian Army was interested in the equipment to enable it prosecute the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry in the country.
“Therefore, we will be needing support in the areas of intelligence sharing and procurement of military hardware.
“These critical equipment needed, will include combat vehicle tract, counter IED equipment, intelligence surveillance equipment, especially drones, armoured personal carriers, artillery weapons both long and short and the need to build capacity for our personnel,” he said.
He said that the Defence Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigerian Government and Polish government, presently at its concluding phase, would further strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Polish ambassador was accompanied by Nigerian ambassador to Poland, Amb. C.O Ugwu and others.
