The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has announced that the Federal Government has procured 12 new aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) over the past year.
He made this statement at the graduation ceremony of the Air War Course 10/2024 at the Air Force War College Nigeria, in Makurdi, on Friday.
Abubakar revealed that these newly acquired platforms were delivered to the NAF between September 2023 and September 2024, with more expected to arrive in the coming months.
“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,” he said.
He further detailed, “These include four Diamond 62 surveillance aircraft; two King Air 360 light transport aircraft; four T-129 ATAK helicopters; and two Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters.” Additionally, he mentioned, “Moving forward, the NAF is poised to take delivery of 24 M-346 fighter aircraft and 10 additional Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters from Italy. Others are three CASA 295 transport aircraft from Spain and 12 AH-1Z Viper helicopters from the United States.”
Abubakar emphasized the NAF’s collaboration with other security agencies, noting, “In synergy with other sister agencies, we have the capacity to confront diverse security challenges in the country.
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 also urged the graduating officers to be relentless in their pursuit of knowledge and to uphold the values of integrity, selfless service, and excellence. Abubakar expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support, stating, “We are determined to restore peace in the country.”
Speaking earlier at the event, the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Abubakar, acknowledged that Nigeria is currently facing multifaceted security challenges that threaten peace, unity, and prosperity.
Represented by Dr. Ibrahim Kana, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, the Minister encouraged the Armed Forces to employ innovative and proactive methods to address these challenges. “As we gather here today, our nation faces multifaceted security challenges which threaten our peace, unity, and prosperity.
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.
The Commandant of the College, AVM Adebayo Kehinde, disclosed that 26 participants graduated after a nine-month study program. He explained that the graduates included 17 representatives from the NAF, two each from the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Army, two from the National Defence College, one from the Ghana Air Force, and two from the Cameroon Air Force.
Kehinde further mentioned that the next course, which is set to begin in January 2025, would include representatives from five additional countries.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the graduates by the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Abubakar.
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