Nigeria takes delivery of first batch of Chinese VT4s
The Nigerian Army on 8 April received the first batch of 17 armoured vehicles from china. These included examples of the VT4 (MBT-3000) main battle tank, ST1 8x8 wheeled tank destroyer and SH5 105mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers from the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO).
Nigeria’s Army Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt Gen Lamidi Adeosun, said the process of acquiring the new vehicles ‘has been on for some time’.
He added: ‘From this, you can see how serious the Federal Government of Nigeria is in making sure that the Nigerian Army is not only equipped but contains the problem of insecurity.’
The new equipment is to be used in the country’s far north where government forces continue to carry out counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram.
Shephard Defence Insight reports that a VT4 has a unit cost of $5.25 million. Until now the only export customer outside China was Thailand, with 48 units from a total order of 52 having been delivered.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Predicted air defence spending boom opens doors to Indian industry]()
Predicted air defence spending boom opens doors to Indian industry
Recent conflicts have created a surge in interceptor demand worldwide while exposing potential supply chain challenges, positioning India as a cost-effective partner and scalable supplier.
-
![March land forces roundup: A new war confronts the old drone problem]()
March land forces roundup: A new war confronts the old drone problem
The attack by the US and Israel on Iran which began at the end of February presented a Ukraine-like scenario of drone-led warfare – in fact the same drone type in the Shahed – and the problem of how to counter them.
-
![The overlooked ally: Canadian support for Ukraine surpasses some European partners]()
The overlooked ally: Canadian support for Ukraine surpasses some European partners
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Canada has committed more military assistance than France in terms of GDP.
-
![France mulls new turret options to increase its VBCI IFV’s firepower]()
France mulls new turret options to increase its VBCI IFV’s firepower
The proposed enhancements could better position the French Army’s armoured infantry fighting vehicle for future export campaigns.
-
![US Army moves towards calls for bids for medium UGV as competitors warm up]()
US Army moves towards calls for bids for medium UGV as competitors warm up
The US Army’s Medium Modular Equipment Transport Trailer (M-METT) programme is planned to provide a platform between Increment II of Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport and the Palletized Load System.
