According to Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), the Federal Government has purchased 12 aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the past year.
Abubakar made this statement on Friday in Makurdi during the Air Force War College Nigeria’s Air War Course 10/2024 graduation ceremony.
He added that the NAF anticipated receiving additional platforms in the upcoming months and that the federal government has deployed the recently acquired systems to the Service between September 2023 and September 2024.
“In line with the Federal Government’s resolve to adequately equip the Nigerian Air Force for the safe conduct of training and agile airpower employment to meet the nation’s security challenges, it is indeed gladdening to note that, between the last Air War Course graduation in September last year and today, we have taken delivery of 12 new platforms.
“These include fout Diamond 62 surveillance aircraft; two King Air 360 light transport aircraft, 4 x T-129 ATAK helicopters and 2 x Agusta Westland 109 Trekker.
“Moving forward, the NAF is poised to take delivery of 24 x M-346 fighter aircraft6 and 10 additional Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters from Italy.
“Others are 3 x CASA 295 transport aircraft from Spain and 12 x AH-1Z Vipper helicopters from the United States,” he stated.
Abubakar asserts that the Service is capable of handling a variety of security issues in the nation when working in tandem with other sister agencies.
“To this end, while we augment our airpower measures and approaches, we will promote seamless interoperability of equipment and joint force employment by the services.
“Therefore, I expect you all to cooperate with other services and security agencies because this is crucial to meet the high expectations of Nigerians on us, to restore peace and security and ensure a safe and prosperous nation,” he said.
The graduates were given a mission by the air chief to uphold the fundamental principles of excellence, selflessness, integrity, and service by continuing to pursue knowledge with tenacity.
“We are determined to restore peace in the country,” he said, praising President Bola Tinubu for his ongoing support of the Service.
Muhammad Abubakar, the nation’s minister of defence, had earlier stated that the country was now dealing with a variety of security issues that endangered peace, unity, and prosperity.
In his capacity as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, on behalf of Abubakar, urged the Armed Forces to employ creative and aggressive approaches to counter national security threats.
“As we gather here today, our nation faces multifaceted security challenges which threaten our peace, unity, and prospentty. Therefore, we need innovative and proactive methods to combat the rise of these violent non-state actors, asymmetric warfare, and complex security threats.
“The Nigerian Air Force has been at the forefront in addressing these challenges, and your training at this esteemed institution has equipped you with the necessary skills to contribute to this effort.” he said.
AVM Adebayo Kehinde, the college’s commandant, reported that 26 students had completed their nine-month study program.
According to Kehinde, the graduates were 17 members of the NAF, including two from each of the Nigerian Army and Navy, two from the National Defence College, one each from the Ghana Air Force and the Cameroon Air Force.
The next stage of the course, which is scheduled to start in January 2025, will include participants from five more nations, according to Kahinde. The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Abubakar, awarded certificates to the graduates, which was a highlight of the ceremony.
