The South African media have published documents
confirming the legitimacy of the $9.3million botched
arms deals between Nigeria and the former apartheid
enclave.
Reports by Rapport and City Press affirmed federal
government’s official position that the transactions
were legitimate.
The media houses said contrary to insinuations, end
user certificates and a ‘shopping’ list accompanied the
transactions as well as a note from Nigerian
government authorizing the deals.
According to the reports, documents showed that the
earlier consignment was approved by the Nigerian
government through the Office of National Security
Adviser (ONSA), which is officially mandated to issue
the end-user certificate for such transactions involving
the nation’s security agencies.
An entire “shopping list” was also said to have been
supplied with the certificate, which included everything
from helicopters to unmanned aircraft, rockets and
ammunition.
A top security source in the intelligence service
disclosed that“In issuing end-user certificate, the
ONSA ensures that it carries all relevant agencies and
stakeholders along. Therefore, such a responsibility is
not a unilateral development.
“For security reasons, the chains leading to the
issuance of end-user certificate cannot be put in the
public domain.
“The recent interest in arms purchase was informed by
the challenges of insurgency which our nation had
been grappling with in the last few years. This is why
the understanding of all Nigerians is necessary.
“Nigeria is desperate to counter activities of terrorists
no matter what it takes even when some of our friends
are not being fair to us.
“The government appeals to the media and all
Nigerians, especially the opposition, to consider the
overall national interest on security issues. They should
not read negative meaning to every good intention of
government in tackling insecurity in the country”.
Continuing, the source said“The federal government
and some top intelligence officers are concerned about
how some officials of South Africa decided to frustrate
the efforts of Nigeria at containing the activities of
terrorists operating in the North-Eastern axis.”
DailyPost gathered that there are concerns that despite
the leeway given to South African companies to thrive
in Nigeria, there are still officials of the country who
are determined to frustrate Nigeria, which in April this
year overtook South Africa as Africa’s largest economy.
Government loyalists insist that the botched deal is
being used by some prominent persons for political
reasons.
They also accused“vested interests”of wishing the war
against insurgency was not won.
On the latest story of seizure of over $5million by
South Africa, those in security circles say it may just
be a refreshment of the old story with a new angle.
Source: http://dailypost.ng/2014/10/07/concerns-
nigeria-south-african-relationship-countrys-media-
confirms-legitimacy-9-3m-arms-deal/?utm_
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