The United
States (U.S.) has accepted to sell one of its A29 Super Tucano aircraft to the
Federal Government to boost the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the
North East. The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, presented the
Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar on behalf of the Federal Government.
A statement
signed by NAF’s Spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya in Abuja,
yesterday said the LOA represents the official U.S. Government offer to sell
U.S. defence articles and services to the Nigerian government.
While
presenting the LOA to Abubakar, at NAF Headquarters in Abuja, the U.S.
Ambassador noted that peaceful existence in Nigeria was strategic to the
security of the entire West African sub-region in particular and the entire
world at large.
Ambassador
Symington expressed the commitment of the U.S. government to helping Nigeria
completely defeat the Boko Haram terrorists and also eliminate all forms of
terrorism from its territory.He, however, conveyed the U.S. Government’s belief
that the capacity of the NAF could greatly be enhanced by the acquisition of
the Super Tucano Aircraft, adding that “the U.S. would therefore continue to
support the NAF in its capacity building efforts, including the timely supply
of needed aircraft spares.”
The
Ambassador also indicated the readiness of relevant officials to work with NAF
officials to facilitate the early delivery of the aircraft once payment had
been made, adding that both countries would be meeting in early January 2018 to
jointly study the LOA prior to subsequent endorsements by both parties.
Abubakar
expressed the appreciation to the U.S. for its steady support towards
sustaining NAF air operations.The CAS said that the NAF would nominate and
prepare all the pilots and maintenance crew to be trained on the Super Tucano
Aircraft, ahead of their training in the U.S.
Meanwhile,
the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said its senior military officers celebrated this
year’s Christmas with officers, airmen/airwomen of the Air Task Force, on
Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri yesterday. A statement signed by NAF’s
spokesman, Air Vice Marshal, Olatokunbo Adesanya said the team of senior NAF
officers was led by the Chief of Policy and Plans at HQ NAF, Air Vice Marshal
(AVM) Muhammadu Mohammed, who represented the Chief of the Air Staff.
At the
celebrations, the CAS said “we have come to celebrate this year’s Christmas
with our officers and men who are making the Air Force proud in the on-going
fight against insurgency.” He urged the personnel to continue to work together.
towards speedily bringing the insurgency to an end.
In a related
development, the NAF also airlifted the Theatre Commander and some senior
officers from the Army Headquarters (AHQ) to Gwoza to celebrate Christmas with
the ground troops.
In another
development, the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) Coordinatior of
Civilian JTF/Vigilante, Mr. Matthew Alao has said that the UNDP spent over N469
million from 2014 to 2015 to empower the youths and women in the Northeast of
Nigeria.Alao disclosed this at the closing ceremony of Course SH: 1065 for
Civilian JTF drawn from Borno and Yobe states. He explained that the training
became necessary especially when the military had almost seen the end of Boko
Haram.
He stated
that the training is meant to equip them to fend for themselves after the
insurgency because Nigeria will be sitting on a time-break if they are left
uncatered for after fighting the Boko Haram.
Alao said
their training was very instructive so that they do not constitute a threat to
the society at the end of the day.The Unit Coordinator, Citizenship and
Leadership Training Centre, Mountain School, Shere Hills, Jos, Mallam
Abdulmumuni Maimako, said that the capacity building for the civilian JTF
training commenced on December 10, 2017 and ended on December 23.
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