NAF Acquires New Fighter helicopter Against Terrorists

NAF Acquires New Fighter helicopter Against Terrorists

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 2 December 2020, took delivery of a second Mi-171E Helicopter acquired by the Federal Government from Serbia. The Ilyushin 76 Strategic Airlifter aircraft that brought the brand new helicopter touched down at NAF Base Makurdi at exactly 3.15pm today. The Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Air Vice Marshal Olusegun Philip, received the new aircraft on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar. A combined team of NAF personnel and technical support staff from the equipment vendor were also on hand to assist in offloading the new aircraft, some parts of which came in crates. In addition, officials of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service were present to ensure necessary documentation.

The new aircraft is the second of 2 Mi-171E helicopters procured by the current Federal Government Administration and brings to 23 the total number of brand new aircraft acquired since 2015. The new aircraft will undoubtedly boost NAF’s contributions in the fight against insurgency, armed banditry and other criminal activities in the country. The newly-received aircraft will now be assembled in Makurdi by a team from the equipment vendor, assisted by NAF technicians, prior to test-flying and formal induction into the NAF.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
2 December 2020
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CAS CHARGES PERSONNEL TO REMAIN COMMITTED AS HE COMMISSIONS ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION AT SEAFB IKEJA

The Chief of the Air Staff, (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has charged personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to sustain their level of commitment towards adding value in addressing current and emerging security challenges in the Country. The CAS stated this today, 2 December 2020, while commissioning 2 newly-remodeled/renovated blocks of airmen’s accommodation at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base (SEAFB) in Ikeja, Lagos. The renovation of the 2 blocks of accommodation, which house 72 airmen and their families, was executed by the NAF Directorate of Works, through direct labour.

The CAS, who was represented by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command (LC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Lawal Alao, stated that the Service would not relent in providing decent and conducive office and residential accommodation for personnel in all its Bases across the Country. He noted that the commissioned projects were part of the current NAF Administration’s infrastructural renewal programme aimed at addressing accommodation and infrastructural challenges at SEAFB and other NAF Bases across the Country. “This is why, despite the limited resources available, we continue to, on annual basis, renovate some blocks of personnel’s accommodation while also building new ones”, he added. He also used the occasion to express his gratitude to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for giving priority attention to the needs of the NAF to enable it more effectively carry out  assign roles.

In his welcome remarks, the Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Razaq Olanrewaju, highlighted that, in furtherance of the CAS’ commitment to ensuring decent accommodation for personnel, 6 blocks of airmen’s accommodation had been renovated in Year 2020 alone, while 3 new blocks of 6 x 3 bedroom flats had also been commissioned.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of keys to beneficiaries of the newly-remodeled blocks. Also present at the event were the Chief of Staff LC, AVM Cosmas Ozougwu, and the Director of Works Headquarters NAF, Air Commodore Abiola Amodu, as well as other senior NAF officers.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
2 December 2020