THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Abuja, Nigeria)
___________________________________________________________________________
_____
For Immediate Release August 26, 2000
FACT SHEET
U.S.- Nigerian Cooperation on Peacekeeping and Military Reform
Nigeria has demonstrated an important commitment to regional stability and
peacekeeping, spending an estimated $10 billion over the last ten years on
peacekeeping operations. As the largest country and preponderant military
power in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS,) Nigeria
provided most of the "muscle" deployed by ECOMOG, the military arm of
ECOWAS to restore democratic governments in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The United States has contributed over $100 million to these ECOMOG
efforts. The Nigerian military, with the size, experience and readiness to
undertake peacekeeping and stability missions, has been an important
partner for U.S. engagement.
President Obasanjo has demonstrated important commitment to military
reform, to end corruption and human rights abuses, and to provide enhanced
training on the role of the military in a modern democracy.
Train and Equip. Nigeria has offered at least five battalions for service
in Sierra Leone in the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
peacekeeping mission. The U.S. Department of Defense is training and
equipping these troops on a priority basis. This "Train and Equip" program
will:
? Provide Nigeria training and equipment worth $42 million for a robust
peacekeeping mission;
? Provide the forces trained increased ability to conduct and coordinate
complex operations;
? Employ a "train the trainer" approach in which Nigerian officers and
non-commissioned officers train their troops under the supervision of U.S.
Special Forces;
? Provide personal gear, medical equipment, communications, non-combat
vehicles, rifles, mortars, machine guns and ammunition; and
? Provide human rights training.
Training of the first battalion has already begun. All five battalions
should be ready for deployment by next summer.
Military Reform. In early 1999, the Government of Nigeria accepted the
United States' offer to assist in Nigeria's military reform efforts. USAID
has provided $1,000,000 for Phase I of an intensive three-part study of
Nigeria's military. Phase I included the development of an action plan for
professionalizing the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces,
rationalizing force structure, establishing democratic values and
strengthening civil-military relations. Phase II, scheduled to begin in
September 2000 and last approximately one year, and Phase III of the study
will help Nigeria implement the action plan, a central element of which is
the institutional reforms needed to ensure more effective civilian control
of the military. The United States and Nigeria have agreed to share the $7
million cost of the Phase II effort. Upon completion of Phase II, a third
phase for sustainment will be undertaken.
Additional U.S. programs to help with the reform of Nigeria's military
include:
International Military Education and Training (IMET.) $600,000 in FY 2000
funds have been allocated to enable Nigerian military officers and civilian
Ministry of Defense officials to attend U.S. military educational
institutions through the U.S. Department of Defense's IMET program.
Expanded-IMET (E-IMET.) DOD's "Expanded" IMET program funded, in FY 2000,
participation by Nigerian senior officers in the following courses, which
may also be offered in FY 2001. (Funds for this program were derived from
the $600,000 IMET allocation):
? Legal Considerations for Military and Peacekeeping Operations;
? Senior International Defense Management Course; and
? Executive Program in Civil-Military Relations
# # #
President and First Lady | Vice President and Mrs. Gore
Record of Progress | The Briefing Room
Gateway to Government | Contacting the White House | White House for Kids
White House History | White House Tours | Help
Privacy Statement