{"id":4370,"date":"2025-02-21T13:20:30","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T13:20:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/?p=4370"},"modified":"2025-02-21T13:20:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T13:20:39","slug":"ex-police-chiefs-fault-fgs-n55bn-security-contract-for-turkish-firm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/2025\/02\/21\/ex-police-chiefs-fault-fgs-n55bn-security-contract-for-turkish-firm\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Police Chiefs Fault FG\u2019s N55bn Security Contract For Turkish Firm"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Federal Government has engaged the services of a Turkish firm, Asisguard, to secure the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway and the borders for N55.2bn ($36.5m).<\/p>\n

The agreement was recently signed by the company\u2019s General Manager, Bar\u0131\u015f D\u00fczg\u00fcn and the Ministry of Defence officials.<\/p>\n

The details of the agreement were, however, sketchy, as there was little information about the terms and duration of the security contract.<\/p>\n

Asisguard has yet to respond to an email from The PUNCH, seeking further information on the projects.<\/p>\n

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The company was expected to deploy killer drones, reconnaissance and surveillance systems, sudden intervention and neutralisation systems, command and control systems, and communication and energy infrastructure systems monitoring towers for enhanced security on the highway and the border areas.<\/p>\n

In addition, Asisguard will perform system installation and integration activities with armed drones as well as surveillance and detection camera systems, the firm disclosed in a statement.<\/p>\n

A former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Adedayo Adeoye, however, argued that the money should have been used to equip the security agencies instead.<\/p>\n

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Incidents of kidnappings are rampant on the Abuja-Kaduna highway, making it a dangerous route for travellers on the 163km road stretch between the nation\u2019s capital and Kaduna.<\/p>\n

Among many other instances, in January 2024, no fewer than 85 people, including travellers and residents, were reportedly abducted by gunmen at Katari, along the Kaduna-Abuja highway, in the Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Four people were reportedly killed during the same period.<\/p>\n

To address the situation, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, deployed police officers with advanced security equipment on the road to ensure the safety of travellers.<\/p>\n

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The porous nature of the borders had been a national concern with reports of terrorists and smugglers taking advantage of the lax security to carry out attacks on communities and security forces and bring in contraband into the country.<\/p>\n

In an interview with a Turkey news agency, Anadolu, D\u00fczg\u00fcn said his company would procure 13 armoured vehicles Yoruk 4\u00d74 from military land vehicle manufacturer, Nurol Makina, to be deployed for the Abuja road safety project.<\/p>\n

Yoruk has a maximum cruise speed of 140km per hour and can be outfitted with weapon systems such as 7.62 and 12.7mm machine guns, 40mm grenade launchers, and air and anti-tank weaponry.<\/p>\n

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In a statement, D\u00fczg\u00fcn said, \u201cWe will contribute to the security of the region alongside our stakeholders in T\u00fcrkiye, with the latest indigenous technology systems and products.\u201d<\/p>\n

It read, \u201cTurkish defence industry company Asisguard has launched an internal security project in Nigeria. Asisguard General Manager Mustafa Bar\u0131\u015f Duzgun says the company has signed a project with Nigeria\u2019s defence ministry.<\/p>\n

\u201cReconnaissance and surveillance systems, sudden intervention and neutralisation systems, command and control systems, and communication and energy infrastructure systems monitoring towers, Turkish-made drones will be provided within the scope of the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce we deliver the products, Turkish products will likely become widespread in this country, where opportunities are even greater.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe provide this project to Nigeria with multiple defence industry companies from Turkey under our integratorship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Explaining further in the statement published on www.military.Africa, a website that reports African security and defence matters, D\u00fczg\u00fcn said \u201cIt is a project we offered as an integrator, some of which are our products and some are from other companies.<\/p>\n

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The firm said the integrated border security project involves the deployment of Songar drones, which offer \u201creal-time and comprehensive situational awareness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal sensors, and advanced imaging technologies, enabling them to capture and analyse vast amounts of visual data.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe surveillance capabilities of Songar drones will prove invaluable in monitoring remote and challenging terrains, identifying potential threats, and providing timely information to security personnel on the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis enhanced surveillance system will act as a force multiplier, allowing authorities to respond swiftly to any suspicious activities and potential breaches along the border,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n

Asisguard stated that the border security contract also included the provision of a mobile drone launch platform, further augmenting Nigeria\u2019s border security capabilities.<\/p>\n

The platform, it added, would enable the rapid deployment of Songar drones to any desired location, allowing for increased flexibility in responding to evolving security challenges.<\/p>\n

It said the mobile drone launch platform would be equipped with state-of-the-art communication systems, ensuring seamless connectivity between the drones and the command centre.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe ability to deploy drones rapidly and effectively will significantly enhance Nigeria\u2019s ability to counter illicit activities, such as smuggling, human trafficking, and border intrusions.<\/p>\n

\u201cApart from cutting-edge technology, Asisguard will be responsible for the complete installation and integration of the border security system.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis comprehensive approach ensures the smooth operation of the solution, as all components will be seamlessly integrated into the existing security infrastructure,\u201d the firm further explained.<\/p>\n

It claimed that its expertise in system integration would enable the security authorities to harness the full potential of the new border security system.<\/p>\n

Asisguard stated that its technical teams would collaborate closely with local authorities to ensure that the system was customised to meet Nigeria\u2019s specific requirements and challenges.<\/p>\n

It added, \u201cTraining programmes will also be conducted to familiarise Nigerian personnel with the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting procedures of the integrated solution<\/p>\n

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\u201cOther Turkish defence industry companies, Havelsan, STM and Nurol Makina, are also involved in the project, which is an example of overseas joint work and marketing activities for the sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe unity among the companies was one of the most important factors in the acquisition of this project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Within the scope of the project, the firm would install long-range multisensor thermal cameras, towers and equipment to be used for reconnaissance and surveillance, armed drone systems, establishment and equipping of command and control centres, as well as energy and data infrastructure for the project.<\/p>\n

It disclosed that fixed-wing, vertical takeoff and landing, sub-cloud autonomous unmanned reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft developed by Havelsan and the command and control software to be developed by the company to manage and command the system would be used in the project.<\/p>\n

The Turkish firm had earlier supplied Songar armed drones to the military counter-terror unit and the police.<\/p>\n

In January 2022, the Federal Government and Turkey entered talks on defence collaboration in counter-terrorism support as well as the acquisition of various military hardware, including attack helicopters, armed drones, and other infantry systems.<\/p>\n

The Ministry of Defence could not be reached for information on the security contract as its Director of Information, Henshaw Ogubike, did not respond to phone calls and a text message on Wednesday and Thursday.<\/p>\n

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The Ministry of Transportation, Janet Mcdickson, declined to comment on the Abuja-Kaduna highway contract.<\/p>\n

She said, \u201cWhatever information you need, make it official by writing to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Commenting on the contracts, DIG Adedayo Adeoye (retd.) said it was pointless.<\/p>\n

He noted, \u201cWhy can\u2019t we buy all the necessary equipment and put our men in charge? We have the funds to procure the equipment they claim to be bringing in, and our security personnel should be able to operate them with proper training.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, this seems like just another contract being awarded for the benefit of certain individuals. There is no real need for this. The situation is not as bad as it used to be, thanks to the efforts of our security operatives. We don\u2019t need to bring in outsiders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best course of action is to equip our security agencies, particularly the police, who are responsible for internal security. We must either strengthen our existing security forces or implement state policing to enhance security in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Retired AIG Ali Amodu was curious about the reason for the contracts, noting that the government had repeatedly stated that foreigners would not be involved in national security projects.<\/p>\n

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He said, \u201cBefore now, we have been saying we don\u2019t want to involve foreigners in our security. I don\u2019t know what led to this sudden change of mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that since Buhari\u2019s time, that highway has remained impassable \u2013 perhaps that is the frustration the President saw. A similar contract was awarded to Tantita in the Niger Delta.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to argue that some individuals are likely to benefit, but I want to focus on the main issue: What is the rationale behind awarding such a contract to a foreign company? Let\u2019s see how the whole thing unfolds. I would not want to jump to conclusions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brig Gen Bashir Adewinbi (retd.) said there was nothing wrong with seeking the help of foreign companies to address the country\u2019s security challenges.<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cThere is nothing wrong with patronising foreign companies if they are the best option. The situation on the ground is very critical and requires an urgent solution.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter how much is spent, security is crucial. Without it, we cannot achieve anything. We cannot progress economically, politically or in other aspects, and we must progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked whether this could be a disservice to the country\u2019s security agents who had been securing the route, he said, \u201cIt depends on how you look at it. If their efforts need to be complemented, there is nothing wrong with that. For this decision to have been made, it must have gone through several stages.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am quite sure the security heads were involved in the process. The government cannot just make such a decision without their input.<\/p>\n

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The Federal Government has engaged the services of a Turkish firm, Asisguard, to secure the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway and the borders for N55.2bn ($36.5m). The agreement was recently signed by the company\u2019s General Manager, Bar\u0131\u015f...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4370"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4373,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4370\/revisions\/4373"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}