Nigeria inducts new helicopter gunships

The Nigerian government says it will continue to fund and equip the military in order to address any form of insurgency in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja, while inducting three newly acquired helicopter gunships for use by the Nigerian Airforce.

He said: I congratulate the Chief of the Air Staff and all the personnel of the Air Force on this occasion of the commissioning of the Agusta 109 Power and MI-171E helicopters gunships into the Service.

 It is noteworthy that professionalism, capacity building and adequately equipping the Armed Forces and other security agencies are a major policy thrust of this Administration. We promise to re-professionalise and re-equip the Armed Forces and security agencies to effectively discharge their duties to our nation. 

 “I have no doubt that the deployment of these Agusta 109P gunships and the M-17IE helicopter would add impetus to the combat efficiency of the Air Force in combating our contemporary security challenges.

“We are committed to taking the right steps in achieving the desired results. The acquisition of these aircraft amongst other military equipment despite our budgetary constraints is an expression of our commitment.

The President however admonished officers and men of the Nigerian Airforce to maintain discipline and maintenance culture, to enhance the use and lifespan of the helicopters.

“I therefore expect discipline in operation and a strong maintenance culture that will enable the nation to derive maximum benefits from this acquisition, he said.

The Nigerian leader used the opportunity to express sincere appreciation to the governments of Italy and Russia, for whom Nigeria acquired the aircrafts, adding that Nigeria will continue to strengthen its ties with them.

“I commend the support of the Governments of Italy and the Russian Federation, in particular efforts of the Italian and Russian Ambassador to Nigeria at sustaining the strategic partnership between our countries, which facilitated this acquisition.

“We will continue to take steps that would deepen our bilateral relations. This administration has taken concrete steps to make the investment climate as friendly as possible for foreign investors and we will strive to maintain this tempo.

 “The degree of confidence of foreign investors in our country is growing and efforts are ongoing to attract more foreign investment in the non-oil sector of the economy so as to achieve the level of diversification we desire to see in our economy,”he said.

President Buhari commended the military for working round the clock, to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorists are completely defeated as well as contributing immensely to peacekeeping operations in Africa and beyond.

“The Nigerian Air Force since its establishment in 1964, has been playing critical roles in national security as well as in peace-keeping operations on the African continent.

“Your 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.

“This is indeed most commendable as our Air Force, alongside other Services, continues to play its unique role in the counter-insurgency operations and other operations particularly in the North East and the North West where our officers, airmen and airwomen, soldiers and ratings are performing gallantly,” he said.

The President promised that government shall ensure that every sector of Nigeria experience the change that it promised.

Highpoint of the event was the inspection of the gunships by the president and other dignitaries that graced the occasion.

There was also a special display by men of the Airforce on the combat capability of the Force.

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