A former Director General of the Defence Industries Corporation, and first Nigerian to produce a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle? EZUGWU MRAP, which was named after him, Major General Victor Ezugwu (retd.), speaks to NAOMI CHIMA about his invention, military career and other issues

Can you give us a brief history of your background and how it has influenced who you are?

I am from Ohebe in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State. I joined the Nigerian Defence Academy as a cadet officer on September 27, 1985, where I studied History. I was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1990 and posted to the Infantry Corps. My military career spanned 38 years, and I retired two years ago.

I am the third of eight children, born to Patrick and Esther Ezugu, both of blessed memory. My father had a profound influence on me. He died in 1978 while I was still in secondary school, but I picked up a lot of discipline from him. He was a colonial-era mechanic, and I believe I inherited some of his technical abilities, which helped me later in designing the Nigerian Army?s first indigenously produced armoured vehicle. My mother, a devout Catholic, raised me after his death. Her spiritual discipline shaped my faith. Today, I remain a dedicated Catholic and was honoured with a papal knighthood by Pope Benedict XVI.

Take us through the conception and invention of Ezugwu MRAP.

In 2016, I was appointed Commandant of Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, by the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.). He asked me to use my frontline experiences in Borno and Adamawa states to reform recruit training. We trained tradesmen and non-tradesmen; the tradesmen included mechanics and drivers.

I challenged the tradesmen to produce five patrol vehicles. We stripped a Volkswagen Golf and rebuilt it into a prototype patrol vehicle. In six months, five functional vehicles were ready and paraded on the passing-out day. Gen. Buratai was impressed and asked me to lead the establishment of a military vehicle production outfit as the pioneer Group Managing Director.

That was how I began working in Kaduna, where I met Shedrack Agbo, a brilliant young Nigerian who studied automobile engineering. Together, we developed the Ezugwu MRAP. Later, President Buhari gave approval for me to move to the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, where we produced the vehicle. I don?t take all the credit though. I worked with a team of smart, young engineers. I brought them together, mentored them, and led the process.

Have the vehicles been used in combat?

Yes, they were deployed in various operational theatres, including in Maiduguri, Adamawa, Sokoto, and Enugu. Over 30 units were produced and distributed. One was even sent to my hometown, where it was celebrated as ?our vehicle.? They were effective in the fight against insurgents.

What makes the MRAP unique?

It is the first armoured vehicle locally produced by the Nigerian military since 1964. President Buhari approved it to be named after me.

The MRAP is bulletproof and can withstand 7.62mm machine gun and AK-47 fire. It is also mine-resistant, with inbuilt mechanisms to neutralise explosive threats. It can move through water up to 20?30 metres deep. It has armoured windshields, advanced communication systems covering 10?16km, and surveillance cameras with a range of 2?5km. Most importantly, it is cost-effective. A unit costs around N250m, while similar foreign versions cost N900m to N1bn.

What challenges did you face in producing it?

Accessing armoured-grade steel was a major challenge. We initially imported it from China, but later found some usable steel locally. Nigeria doesn?t produce armoured steel; Ajaokuta Steel has been dormant for years. We also had to import the truck chassis from China because local factories like ANAMCO, Leyland, and Steyr had shut down.

The COVID-19 pandemic complicated things further with logistical and foreign exchange issues. But, all the engineering work was done by Nigerians. No foreigner was involved. Our oldest engineer was just 32 years old. It proved we have the manpower in this country.

How long did the project take?

We started in 2018. Within about seven months, we had a working prototype. By 2019, President Buhari commissioned the improved second version. By 2021, we had a globally competitive MRAP. It took us about three to four years; a feat, considering that similar projects abroad take eight to 12 years.

Is the project still ongoing?

Unfortunately, since I left DICON, production has slowed significantly. I don?t know why. It highlights one of Nigeria?s biggest problems? lack of continuity. However, I am in touch with the current military leadership and I?m hopeful production will resume.

What improvements would you like to see in future versions?

I would like future versions to be adapted for climate resilience, especially given global warming and Nigeria?s diverse terrain. Materials, tyre specs, and armour thickness should also be regularly updated; just like other advanced countries do.

You?ve had decades of combat experience. What lessons did you take away from that?

I have seen a lot and I?m grateful to God. I was commissioned in 1990 and deployed to Sierra Leone in 1991, Liberia in 1992. My soldiers called me ?Rambo.? I fought in Bakassi in 1993, and in Warri in 1995. I led the disarmament of 32 militant camps during the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme.

As a Brigadier General, I reclaimed seven local governments from Boko Haram in Adamawa in just three months. Later, as General Officer Commanding in Maiduguri, I stabilised several areas. My entire career was battlefront-driven. Through it all, I held tightly to my faith. We prayed before battle, after victory, every Sunday, every morning. That?s why the Catholic Church honoured me with a papal knighthood right there in Maiduguri. The Bishop himself wrote to the Pope.

What leadership principles guided you in the field?

To lead in war, you must be selfless and courageous. Soldiers don?t follow cowards. I always told my men, ?Follow me,? and I meant it. I led from the front.

You must also be transformational. I improved feeding, welfare, and morale. I treated my soldiers like my own children. That?s the only way to earn their trust.

And you must manage scarce resources wisely. Many times, I used my personal funds to support my men. Leadership is sacrifice. When your soldiers know you care, they?ll risk their lives for you. When they know you don?t, they won?t. Some commanders have even been shot by their own troops. It is rare, but it happens.

Let?s talk about Boko Haram. For many people, especially in the South, the war still feels distant. What?s your perspective, having been involved in the fight?

The Boko Haram war is real, and a huge challenge. It started in Maiduguri and escalated quickly. We couldn?t deal with it the way the Nigerian Army normally handles crises because it became politicised. Before democracy, we didn?t have insurgencies like this. We tackled crises decisively. But politicians allowed Boko Haram to fester. Now, the group has splintered into multiple factions with different names.

The Army needs a more defensive and technologically driven strategy. Modern warfare isn?t just about guns and bullets; it?s about precision and intelligence. We need drones, surveillance, and advanced tech. If I had the resources and mandate, I believe we could end this war in a short time. But the truth is, some people benefit from the crisis, especially during elections. Fewer votes are cast in crisis areas, which can be politically convenient.

You?ve had a long and dangerous career. How did your family cope during those years?

Let me use my time in Adamawa and Maiduguri as examples. When I was in Adamawa, my family would visit me in Yola (the state capital). I would then spend a few days with them and return to the frontlines. At one point, my wife even stayed with me in Maiduguri. People warned her, ?They could kill you!? But she told them, ?For better or worse. If they kill me, so be it. I won?t leave him.?

She stayed and even enrolled in school while I was fighting. They (my family) got used to it. They prayed for me and visited when they could. Now that I?m retired, we live together in peace. She stood by me from the Niger Delta to Bakassi. She has seen it all. I thank God I survived it, and now we?re enjoying the calm after the storm.

How long have you been married, and what?s family life like for you now?

We got married in December 1994. It has been a stable yet eventful marriage. We have three children? two boys and a girl. Our sons are studying abroad; one is in Poland studying medicine, the other is in the United States for his master?s. Our daughter lives with us here in Nigeria.

I come from a large family. My father had three wives, but I learnt from that. I have only one wife, and I?m content. God blessed me not just with a wife, but a friend, sister, and mother figure.

What was a typical day like for you in the Army compared to now?

Then and now, I start my day with morning devotion or Mass. While in service, after prayers, I would head to the office, then to the field; I wasn?t a desk officer. I liked to be with my soldiers. That?s why they respected and loved me. There?s even a picture of them carrying me shoulder-high after we won a competition in Maiduguri.

Now, my office is at home. After morning Mass, I attend to phone calls, spend time with family, have lunch, and rest. I?m not a socialite. I go to weddings or events when invited, but I don?t attend nightclubs. I travel sometimes, but I mostly enjoy the peace of home.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind?

My village community built a statue of me at the market square. That means a lot to me. I want to be remembered as the general who didn?t forget his roots; a son who joined the military and made his people proud. I have contributed to the development of my community via roads, solar lights, a civic centre, and more.

I also want to be remembered as a devoted Catholic. I completed the church in my village, and the bishop came to dedicate it. I have been honoured as a Papal Knight. I want the Nigerian Army to remember me as one of their most decorated generals; someone who gave his all. And I hope my parents, wherever they are, know their son made them proud.

What?s your view on politicians politicising conflicts and governance in Nigeria?

Our leaders must stop taking citizens? silence for weakness. A dog that doesn?t bark?when it finally bites?it feels like a lion?s attack. From the president downwards, they should govern with the fear of God. We are a rich nation, yet our people are poor. It is unacceptable.

Our leaders live in opulence; driving in cars Western presidents don?t even use. We waste resources. We don?t reduce the cost of governance. It is time they give Nigerians the true dividends of democracy.

And to those politicians who think they can play God?sabotaging opponents while being in one party and working against another?they need to stop. Politics should be a noble game, not a dirty one. Unfortunately, it has been turned into something wicked. We pray God doesn?t lose patience with Nigeria.

What are your thoughts on electoral integrity?

Let our votes count. End all forms of manipulation. Every election result seems blurry or tampered with. It must stop. Let people?s choices prevail. If someone is elected and fails, at least we know we chose them. But don?t impose leaders on us.

In the next elections, politicians must let the people decide. Stop shortchanging voters. It is a betrayal of trust.

What advice do you have for Nigerians?

Stand up for your rights. Let your voices be heard. Don?t just pray; act. Prayer without action is empty. When the time comes to speak or act, do it. God will handle the rest.

Now that you?re retired, how do you spend your leisure time?

God comes first, then my family. After that, golf, which I play three times a week?Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. For those four to six hours, I forget everything. No phone, no distractions. It clears my head and keeps me fit.

I also love helping people. If I go two days without doing something to make someone happy, I feel something is missing. I enjoy gospel and old-school music, which lifts my spirit. And I stay active in church and village affairs.

I also mentor young officers and give lectures. Even after retirement, I get invited by the military to share my knowledge. I see it as a way of giving back.

Would you consider joining politics?

My people want me to. But for now, I haven?t made that decision. I don?t like the way politics is played in Nigeria, and I don?t belong to any party. But, I am watching. When the time is right, I?ll seek God?s direction.

What?s your favourite food?

Pounded yam and bitterleaf soup. That?s how to get to me. I am from Nsukka and I love our local dishes. I?m not big on rice, but I eat it occasionally. (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)

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