Just imagine how we could dramatically enhance Nigeria’s economy if we manufactured battle tanks for every army in Africa 

Ayo Akinfe

[1] When I look at the way Nato nations are falling over each other to supply Ukraine with battle tanks, I weep for our dear African continent. When has the West ever assisted an African nation like that in say its battle against terrorists?

[2] Battle tanks are actually quite a rare commodity at the moment. Russia is having to roll out previously decommissioned Soviet era T-55 tanks as the war with Ukraine has created a scarcity due to the high casualty rate 

[3] For those who may not be aware, the T-55 was the Soviet tank sold to developing nations during the Cold War. Countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt, etc, all equipped their armies with T-55s in the 1970s. Such obsolete technology has no place on the battlefield in 2023

[4] To fight a modern war, an army needs top of the range battle tanks like the Challenger(UK), Abrams (US), Leopard (Germany), T-90 (Russia) and Merkava (Israel). These tanks cost about $2m apiece 

[5] No African nation currently manufactures battle tanks for its army. That for me is not only totally unacceptable but shows there is a black hole in the market 

[6] For me, World War Two will always represent a key turning point in the history of mankind. It led to too many changes in productivity and output. What I cannot figure out is why this has not rubbed off on Africa 

[7] Between 1939 and 1945, the two tanks that defeated Nazi Germany were the Soviet T-34 and the American M4 Sherman. It is perplexing that in 2023, countries like say Nigeria, Egypt or South Africa are not manufacturing medium tanks like this in a mass scale 

[8] I am hoping that one of Nigeria’s newly elected governors will fill this gap in the market by inviting manufacturers to come and open a tank factory within his domain. Just imagine how many jobs this would create 

[9] Whoever Bola Tinubu appoints as his defence minister should then travel around Africa seeking to sign every nation up to buying battle tanks from this Nigerian manufacturer. We should also be selling globally too 

[10] There are certain things which define nationhood and are status symbols. For me, a battle tank is one such symbol and I find it highly embarrassing that Nigeria does not manufacture battle tanks for her own army