South Africa extols Nigerian military

Maj. Gen. Daniel Mafokeng

South Africa extols Nigerian military
Collins Atohengbe, Pretoria

South Africa has expressed delight at the relations between the NIGERIAN Armed Forces and the South African Defence Force in every aspect of the military profession.

The Chief of Defence in charge of Foreign Relation of the South African Defence Force, Maj. Gen. Daniel Mafokeng said Nigeria was in the fore front in the struggle against apartheid.

Gen. Mafokeng said Nigeria made enormous sacrifices for the liberation of South Africa from racial rule and it became a member of the then Front line States in addition to offering military training support to South Africa’s military personnel to assist the now ruling African National Congress.

According to him, Nigeria’s gesture particularly in the pre-1994 dethronement of the defunct apartheid regime; has helped to shore up relations between Abuja and Pretoria.

“I must say the relations between the two countries most especially before 1994; has been extra ordinary in the sense that Nigeria has been in the fore front in the anti-apartheid struggle. It assisted and trained our cadre, our students and military students then. So I must say the cooperation between the two has been very great indeed”.  Gen. Mafukeng said.

Nigerian military’s credentials

Reflecting on Nigeria’s contribution towards the liberation struggle, the Defence Adviser to South Africa, Commodore Jacob Ajani described Nigeria’s credentials in the military profession is enviable.
Comdr. Ajani noted that Nigeria has well trained manpower that would require relevant infrastructure and up to date equipment to be able to operate unhindered in a sophisticated international military community.

He told voice of Nigeria that Nigeria’s performance in places like Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast has enabled it to gain recognition in addition to having provided exemplary leadership ability as commandants of the United Nations and African Union’s peace missions at different times

"The Nigerian Armed Forces, very intimidating credentials in terms of its military professionalism is exemplified by its role in Liberia, Sierra Leone and most recently, in Ivory Coast. In most international fora you find out that it comes easily that Nigeria takes the front line by way of providing leadership. We have provided many force commandants for the United Nations’ peace keeping missions and the Africa Union as well so to that extent if you are not acceptable to your contemporaries it will not be easy for you to be so recognised and acknowledged. So, that we are able to show forth the qualities of our personnel in such missions means we are acceptable to the international community and especially to the countries of Africa,” the Defence Adviser said.

Jonathan’s Transformation agenda

Commodore Ajani thanked the Nigerian government for its transformation programme and said he believes that the equipment needs of the country’s Armed Forces will be taken care of so that military personnel will have avenue to put the knowledge acquired from various training programmes into action.

The Nigerian Defence adviser had hosted fellow Defence attaches and Advisers to a reception to commemorate the 2012 Nigeria’s Armed Forces and Remembrance Day celebrations in Pretoria, South Africa.  

Cokey