Buhari hands over 2 Presidential Jets to Air Force

News Express |10th Oct 2016 | 2,589

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.), on Monday handed over two aircraft of the Presidential Fleet to the Nigerian Air Force.

The two Augusta AW101 helicopters were handed over to the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, at a ceremony in Abuja.

Monguno, during the presentation said the release of the aircraft fulfills President Muhammadu Buhari promise to reduce funds spent on maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet.

He also said the committee set up for the sale of two other aircraft, a Falcon 7X and Hawker 4000 aircrafts would soon complete its assignment.

He pointed out that the aircrafts handed over to the NAF “have ballistic defence capabilities and are equipped with defensive aid suites against certain forms of missile attacks.”

In his address, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Abubakar said the aircraft would encourage the Service to focus on the fight against insurgency and militancy in the country.

Abubakar added that the NAF would reconfigure the two aircraft for deployment to “tactical airlift of troops and logistics in support of combat operations.”

He said that while one of the aircraft would be configured as an air ambulance with a trauma unit, the other would be used as a carrier for troops.

•Text courtesy of Daily Trust. Photo shows the two Presidential Jets.