President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday ordered the release of two
Augusta AW 101, VVIP helicopters from the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) to the
Nigerian Air Force (NAF)
The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, who presented
the helicopters to the Air Force, said the gesture was in fulfillment of the
President’s promise to reduce the cost of the amount expended on the PAF .
Mr. Monguno, a retired major general, said that in line with
this philosophy, two aircraft – 1x AW109 helicopter and 1x King Air Beechcraft
– had earlier been released to the NAF in 2015, immediately the president took
over.
He said it was given out in realisation of the need to
immediately enhance the capacity of the armed forces in its campaign against
insurgency.
He said that the president had also given approval for the sale
of one of the 2x Falcons 7x and the Hawker 4000 aircraft operated by the fleet.
The NSA also said that a committee for the sale of both aircraft
was already sitting and would soon complete its assignment.
“AW 101 is a highly versatile helicopter used in both VIP civil
and military applications.
“These two helicopters handed to the NAF today have ballistic
defence capabilities and are equipped with defensive aid suites against certain
forms of missile attacks.
“Mr
president appreciated the need to enhance the airlift capacity of NAF to
strengthen the efforts of the ongoing campaign against insurgency in different
parts of the country.
“This is compatible with his philosophy to reduce the cost of
governance and enhance capacity of our armed forces,” Mr. Monguno said.
Responding, the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, said the
gesture had encouraged NAF to focus on the fight against insurgency in the
North-East and militancy.
Mr. Abubakar, an air vice marshal, said that the 2x Augusta
Westland 101 helicopters were executive helicopters designed for the transportation
of VIPs and equipped with ballistic defence capabilities and defensive aid
suites.
“Like the two aircraft earlier handed to us, we intend to
reconfigure these helicopters and deploy them for tactical airlift of troops
and logistics in support of combat operations.
“Incidentally, the acceptance of these helicopters and the
intended reconfiguration efforts are in line with two drivers of my vision.
“These provides for robust logistics support and maintenance
culture to sustain platforms /equipments service as well as reinforcement of
the culture of self-reliance and prudent management of resources,” he said.
Mr. Abubakar thanked the president for his support to NAF,
adding that the use of the helicopters would be justified.
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, said that the handing
over of the aircraft would augment NAF’s aircraft inventory, boost its air
power capability and consolidate in the realisation of its vision.
Mr. Dan-Ali said the vision would help to reposition NAF into a
highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiative
for effective, efficient and timely employment of power in response to
security.
He expressed optimism that with the addition of the two
helicopters, more accomplishments would be achieved to decisively win the war
against terrorism, insurgency and other forms of criminalities.
(NAN)
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