BREAKING NEWS, Security
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PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has handed over two Ballistics defence capabilities aircraft from the presidential fleet to the Nigerian Air Force, in line with his plans to cut down on expenditure. The handover took place at the Presidential wing of the Abuja Airport on Monday, October 10.
Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar, chief of Air Staff, who received the aircraft said one of the aircraft would be configured and deployed as ambulance while the second would be deployed as troop carrier. Abubakar said: “The two Helicopters will be immediately reconfigured and deployed to the Northeast for the use of Nigerian troops.” “The Air Ambulance will carry a Trauma Unit, to ensure that injured troops get immediate medical assistance during airlift.
“These helicopters are some of the most sophisticated, most comfortable and most equipped in the world. We can’t wait to fly our new aircraft. That’s why we’re all dressed in combat gear.” The two helicopters were acquired by the federal government between October 20, 2014 and May 21, 2015 respectively.
President Buhari had carried out the first handover of some aircraft to the Air Force in 2015, shortly after he took over. The first handover of Presidential Air Fleet aircraft involved two helicopters, handed over to Air Force in 2015 to boost operations in the Northeast.
The two aircraft being handed over in the second phase are AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters. The aircraft are also equipped against certain forms of missile attacks.
— Oct 10, 2016 @ 20:05 GMT
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