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Sierra Leone has made known its intention to renew military ties with Nigeria after a period of lull occasioned by military interregnum in that country.

Sierra Leone’s Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Oumar Williams, gave the indication during a courtesy call on Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

General Williams, who acknowledged role of Nigeria over the years especially during the unfortunate Sierra Leone civil war, said a huge gap has been created since the departure of Nigerian and the British training teams from the country. He solicited the assistance of Nigeria in the areas of training, development of training manual and Doctrine.

General Williams who is in Nigeria to attend the graduation ceremony of senior course 36 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, also requested for more training slots at the National Defence College (NDC) Abuja and the AFCSC Jaji.

The Sierra Leone Defence Chief also said that the conversion of most of its senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) to the officers cadre immediately after the Sierra Leone war had created a lacuna in terms of experience and continuity in the other rank cadre.

In his response, Air Chief Marshal Badeh thanked the visiting CDS for acknowledging Nigeria’s legendary contributions to the development of Sierra Leone, noting that both countries share a lot of things in common.

Air Chief Marshal Badeh assured the Sierra Leone CDS of the willingness of the Nigerian Armed forces to partner with the Sierra Leone Armed Forces, particularly in the area of training and capacity building.

•Photo shows Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

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