Nigeria’s effort to overcome Boko Haram
faces another problem with refusal by the Saudi Arabia to grant
over-flight permits to cargo planes conveying military equipment and
armoured tanks procured by the Nigerian government from Pakistan,
ThisDay informs.
This decision made by the Saudi government can cause a big diplomatic scandal because it is well known that Jonathan’s administration aims at ending the insurgency in the North-east before the 2015 election.
Goodluck Jonathan has given the permission to military authorities to procure arms from alternative sources such as Pakistan and Russia other than Nigeria’s traditional allies led by the United States of America, United Kingdom and France.
According to ThisDay’s source, the decision was premised on Nigeria’s displeasure with the US after the country blocked the sale of American-manufactured Cobra attack helicopters from Israel.
Because of the West’s position, Nigeria decided to turn to the East, mainly Pakistan, from which the federal government was able to procure a huge cache of military hardware.
This decision made by the Saudi government can cause a big diplomatic scandal because it is well known that Jonathan’s administration aims at ending the insurgency in the North-east before the 2015 election.
Goodluck Jonathan has given the permission to military authorities to procure arms from alternative sources such as Pakistan and Russia other than Nigeria’s traditional allies led by the United States of America, United Kingdom and France.
According to ThisDay’s source, the decision was premised on Nigeria’s displeasure with the US after the country blocked the sale of American-manufactured Cobra attack helicopters from Israel.
Because of the West’s position, Nigeria decided to turn to the East, mainly Pakistan, from which the federal government was able to procure a huge cache of military hardware.