By Caleb Ayansina

ABUJA—The Federal Government, yesterday, gave reason for the cancellation of the training of Nigerian soldiers by American security experts, attributing it to logistic problem.

The U.S. Government, through its Embassy in Abuja on Monday said in a statement that “At the request of the Nigerian government, the United States will discontinue its training of a Nigerian Army battalion.”

But Nigerian government explained that it did not cancel the training, but that the condition placed down by US government was not healthy for the security of lives and property of its citizens, particularly those in the north east region.

The conditions, according to it, include withdrawing of some military equipment from the battle field, so that the American could use them to train the soldiers.

The Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, who stated this during a routine briefing on security situation in the country, in Abuja, said the government would not expose its citizens at the mercy of insurgents because it wants to train its solders.

However, Omeri maintained that the two countries were not at variance as being insinuated by some people in the country. “Nigeria and America have strong military relation till date. It’s still ongoing and strong,” he said, disclosing that Nigerian soldiers had concluded two phases of the training out of the three.

Omeri explained that the third phase had to do with logistical components which the Americas did not provide but instead relied on Nigerian Military equipments, which was currently in use in the troubled states.