BEVERLY HILLS, October 10, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari, has donated two Ballistics defence capabilities aircrafts from the presidential fleet to the Nigerian Air Force, in line with his plans to cut down on expenditure, six days after two jets from the same fleet were put up for sale.
Reports from the Presidency reveals that the two aircraft being handed over are Agusta Westland AW101 helicopters and which possesses ballistics defence capabilities, and are equipped against certain forms of missile attacks.
The two helicopters, which are part of the 10 aircraft in the presidential air fleet, were acquired on October 20, 2014 and May 21, 2015.
At the handover ceremony which took place at the Presidential wing of the Abuja Airport on Monday, Babagana Monguno, National Security Adviser, signed the transfer documents on behalf of the President while the Chief of Air Staff, AVM Abubakar received the aircrafts on behalf of the Air Force.
Abubakar declared that one of the aircrafts would be configured and deployed as ambulance while the second would be deployed as troop carrier.
“It is with a big sense of appreciation that I accept these helicopters into the Air Force,” he said.
“One of the helicopters will be configured and deployed as an Air Ambulance, while 2nd will be deployed as a Troop Carrier.
“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.”
THEWILL recalls that Buhari had carried out the first handover of some aircrafts to the Air Force in 2015, shortly after he took over to boost operations in the Northeast.
Story by David Oputah
