THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary (Abuja, Nigeria)
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
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