Friday, January 02, 2009

Nigeria: Air Force to Acquire Two Combat Aircraft

Nigeria: Air Force to Acquire Two ATR42 Combat Aircraft (NSI News Source Info) January 2, 2009: Nigerian Air Force has resolved to acquire two new ATR42 combat aircraft early next year to patrol the nation's waterways against piracy and other criminal elements. Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, disclosed this when he paid a working visit to the Logistics Command Headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday. According to the CAS, maritime operation is not the sole responsibility of the Air Force but with the involvement of the Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration (NIMASA), the Nigerian Navy, Marine Police and other stakeholders in the industry. To hasten the patrol of the Nigerian coastal waters, the NAF boss said the Federal Government had authorised and also paid for the procurement of the two ATR42 combat Aircraft, which would arrive the country's shore in the coming year. According to him, immediately the Aircraft were delivered, criminals would have no hiding place on the Nigerian territorial waterways. Petinrin noted that his visit to the Logistics Command Headquarters was as a result of its critical importance to the existence of the Armed Forces worldwide. Owing to the success of recent several military operations that bordered on multi-national exercises in Lagos, especially the visit of the U.S. and France Naval ships, the CAS explained that the Air Force played significant roles in the area of communication support during the joint exercises with the Nigerian counterparts. The CAS added that a huge chunk of the 2009 budget earmarked for the Air Force, with the active support of the Federal Government, would be directed on the purchase of new Aircraft, while the grounded ones on its fleets would be brought back in proper shapes. Technically, the Air Force chief said there was no fleet that was completely grounded. However, Petinrin, thanked Mr. President for sharing in the vision of the service, saying the Federal Government has always been supportive in all areas, particularly at resuscitating the Nigerian Air Force and as well, make it combat-ready to defend the territorial integrity of the nation, both internally and externally. He pledged that the agenda of his team to the Federal Government and good people of the country had been to see that the Aircraft fly and fight and be able to deliver.

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