‘Air Force got 23 fighter jets in five years’

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration got 23
brand new aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to boost its
fight against insecurity in the last five years.

President Buhari spoke on Thursday at the induction and
commissioning of newly acquired NAF MI-171E helicopter and two
reactivated Alpha jets and one L39ZA aircraft in Kaduna.

The President, who commissioned the aircraft virtually, said his
administration would continue to support the Air Force and the
entire Armed Forces to enable them become more effective in the
execution of their mandate for the safety and security of Nigeria
and Nigerians.

He said: “Today’s induction brings to 23 the number of brand new
aircraft that have been added to the inventory of the Nigerian Air
Force since we came on board in 2015 and is a clear reflection of
our unflinching commitment to ensuring the security of Nigeria and
Nigerians.

“These 23 new aircraft are aside the 15 additional aircraft,
including 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States of
America and three JF-17 Thunder Multi-Role fighter aircraft from
Pakistan that have been procured and will soon be delivered.”

President Buhari said these achievements are aside the support
towards reactivating over 25 erstwhile unserviceable aircraft
“significantly boosting the capacity of the NAF to deliver robust
air power in support of our counter-terrorism and
counter-insurgency efforts”.

The President said he had released two Agusta 101 helicopters
from the Presidential Air Fleet to the NAF to improve its tactical
capability.

He reiterated the promise of his administration to remain
committed to confronting the Boko Haram insurgency as well as other
forms of criminality that have bedevilled the country.

President Buhari hailed the security forces for the successes
they have recorded so far, especially by restoring “some level of
stability not only in Borno and Yobe states but also in Adamawa
State.

“Consequently, I want to sincerely thank Nigerians for believing
in us and coming together as a nation, irrespective of political,
religious and ethnic affiliations, to bring this scourge to an
end,” he said.

President Buhari acknowledged the critical role the NAF has been
playing in national and continental security and peace-keeping
operations since its establishment in 1964.

“Her contributions in internal security, peace-keeping and
humanitarian operations in places like The Gambia, Guinea Conakry,
Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Cameroon
have not only been a source of pride to us as a nation but has also
projected us as a reliable regional power that has helped to
stabilise other nations and stood firm in defence of democracy,” he
added.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration got 23
brand new aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to boost its
fight against insecurity in the last five years.

President Buhari spoke on Thursday at the induction and
commissioning of newly acquired NAF MI-171E helicopter and two
reactivated Alpha jets and one L39ZA aircraft in Kaduna.

The President, who commissioned the aircraft virtually, said his
administration would continue to support the Air Force and the
entire Armed Forces to enable them become more effective in the
execution of their mandate for the safety and security of Nigeria
and Nigerians.

He said: “Today’s induction brings to 23 the number of brand new
aircraft that have been added to the inventory of the Nigerian Air
Force since we came on board in 2015 and is a clear reflection of
our unflinching commitment to ensuring the security of Nigeria and
Nigerians.

“These 23 new aircraft are aside the 15 additional aircraft,
including 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States of
America and three JF-17 Thunder Multi-Role fighter aircraft from
Pakistan that have been procured and will soon be delivered.”

President Buhari said these achievements are aside the support
towards reactivating over 25 erstwhile unserviceable aircraft
“significantly boosting the capacity of the NAF to deliver robust
air power in support of our counter-terrorism and
counter-insurgency efforts”.

The President said he had released two Agusta 101 helicopters
from the Presidential Air Fleet to the NAF to improve its tactical
capability.

He reiterated the promise of his administration to remain
committed to confronting the Boko Haram insurgency as well as other
forms of criminality that have bedevilled the country.

President Buhari hailed the security forces for the successes
they have recorded so far, especially by restoring “some level of
stability not only in Borno and Yobe states but also in Adamawa
State.

“Consequently, I want to sincerely thank Nigerians for believing
in us and coming together as a nation, irrespective of political,
religious and ethnic affiliations, to bring this scourge to an
end,” he said.

President Buhari acknowledged the critical role the NAF has been
playing in national and continental security and peace-keeping
operations since its establishment in 1964.

“Her contributions in internal security, peace-keeping and
humanitarian operations in places like The Gambia, Guinea Conakry,
Mozambique, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Cameroon
have not only been a source of pride to us as a nation but has also
projected us as a reliable regional power that has helped to
stabilise other nations and stood firm in defence of democracy,” he
added.