Following the successful combat debut of the Nigerian made Ezugwu Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle against the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents, the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, December 3 commissioned the vehicle into active service.
The commissioning event took place at the opening of the 2019 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference in Kaduna.
The Ezugwu MRAP will be used for military operations in the North-East. It was manufactured by DICON in collaboration with Command Engineering Depot (CED), Nigeria to replace obsolete combat vehicles in the Nigerian Army’s inventory.
‘‘I note the collaborative efforts of the Command Engineering Depot with relevant indigenous organisations to promote local content towards developing our military-industrial complex.
‘‘I am glad that the production of Ezugwu Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles which I will be unveiling today will join the infantry patrol vehicles that were earlier produced as testimony that our efforts are yielding positive results,” Buhari said.
Ezugwu MRAP features a double enclosed turret which can traverse 360 degrees. Both turrets can mount all type of munition in the Nigerian Army inventory.
Also, a prominent feature is the driver’s hull penetrating vision block mounted at the right hand side, similar to the South African made Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle.