MOSCOW, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Muhammadu
Buhari hopes to sign a military technical cooperation deal with
Russia at talks with President Vladimir Putin this month that
will help it fight Boko Haram militants, Nigeria's ambassador in
Moscow said on Friday.
The Nigerian leader is due to meet Putin on the sidelines of
a Russia-Africa summit in the Black Sea city of Sochi amid a
push by Moscow to expand its influence in Africa.
"We're sure that with Russian help we'll manage to crush
Boko Haram, given Russia's experience combating Islamic State in
Syria," Nigerian envoy Steve Ugbah said in an interview with
Russia's RIA news agency.
He added that Nigeria was interested in purchasing Russian
helicopters, planes, tanks and other military equipment.
Ugbah said a military technical cooperation deal between
Russia and Nigeria had already been drafted and that it only
needed to be finalised.
"We hope president Buhari can take the talks to their
logical end ... The agreement will open new possibilities in
such areas as the supply of military equipment and training for
specialists," he said.