Counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, anti-crude oil theft and anti-kidnapping operations in Nigeria received a major boost as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inducted 2 new T-129 ATAK Helicopters and a King Air 360ER Beechcraft into the Order of Battle (ORBAT) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) earlier today, 6 February 2024, at NAF Base, Makurdi.
Speaking through the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu expressed confidence that the deployment of the newly acquired platforms would significantly enhance the combat efficiency of the NAF in addressing contemporary security challenges, both domestically and within the West African region.
He then called for discipline in operations and the establishment of a robust maintenance culture to maximize the benefits derived therein. Speaking further, President Tinubu expressed pride in the NAF standing as a dependable regional power and emphasized his administration’s dedication to supporting it.
In his remarks, the Honourable Minister of Defence, Dr Badaru Abubakar, acknowledged the sincerity of purpose of the President towards restoring peace in every part of Nigeria.
Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had noted that the induction ceremony bears glowing testimony of the Federal Government’s unwavering resolve to equip and energize the NAF and indeed the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria, towards combating terrorism and other threats facing the Nation.
The ceremony witnessed the presence of other distinguished dignitaries, including the Excutive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Hyacinth Alia, Minister of Information and Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar, members of the national assembly and several senior military officers, serving and retired.