Six Super Tucano Aircraft To Arrive In Nigeria July Says Buhari’s Aide, Garba Shehu

The Presidency, on Thursday, said six of the 12 Super Tucano
fighter aircraft earlier ordered by the Federal Government will
arrive in the country by July 2021.

The Spokesman for the President, Garba Shehu, announced this in
a statement titled, ‘Nigeria’s Super Tucanos To Arrive Mid-July
2021’.

It read, “Six of the twelve Super Tucanos are on track to arrive
in mid-July 2021. With the remaining six shortly after that. There
are 14 Nigerian pilots currently training at Moody Air Force Base
in Georgia.

“The Super Tucanos came off the production line in Jacksonville
Florida and are now being equipped and flight tested. Nigerian
pilots and maintenance personnel are training on these planes.
Currently, the construction is ongoing, which will house the
aircraft.

“The Air-Ground-Integration school is the training hub on
targeting and minimization of civilian casualties.”

The Federal Government in February, 2018 placed an order for 12
Super Tucano aircraft at a cost of $496million. Several delivery
dates have been announced for the aircraft but the fighter jets
have not been delivered.

Recall that the National Security Adviser, Major General
Babagana Monguno (retd.), alleged that $1bn funds meant to purchase
arms including the Super Tucanos to tackle insurgency during the
ex-service chiefs’ tenure got missing.

This comes over a month after the ex-service chiefs’ resignation
and replacement by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari
(retd).

The Presidency, on Thursday, said six of the 12 Super Tucano
fighter aircraft earlier ordered by the Federal Government will
arrive in the country by July 2021.

The Spokesman for the President, Garba Shehu, announced this in
a statement titled, ‘Nigeria’s Super Tucanos To Arrive Mid-July
2021’.

It read, “Six of the twelve Super Tucanos are on track to arrive
in mid-July 2021. With the remaining six shortly after that. There
are 14 Nigerian pilots currently training at Moody Air Force Base
in Georgia.

“The Super Tucanos came off the production line in Jacksonville
Florida and are now being equipped and flight tested. Nigerian
pilots and maintenance personnel are training on these planes.
Currently, the construction is ongoing, which will house the
aircraft.

“The Air-Ground-Integration school is the training hub on
targeting and minimization of civilian casualties.”

The Federal Government in February, 2018 placed an order for 12
Super Tucano aircraft at a cost of $496million. Several delivery
dates have been announced for the aircraft but the fighter jets
have not been delivered.

Recall that the National Security Adviser, Major General
Babagana Monguno (retd.), alleged that $1bn funds meant to purchase
arms including the Super Tucanos to tackle insurgency during the
ex-service chiefs’ tenure got missing.

This comes over a month after the ex-service chiefs’ resignation
and replacement by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari
(retd).