The federal government took its fight against insurgency a notch higher as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced that plan was almost concluded to acquire another set of fighter helicopters to bolster its combat capabilities and operational efficiency.
A breakdown of the number showed there are 24 M-346 Fighter Ground Attack jets and 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters.
NAF had, in the last two years, taken delivery of 12 Super Tucano, two additional DA-62 surveillance aircraft and T-129 ATAK helicopters, and two Diamond-62 Multi-Purpose aircraft among a couple others.
Announcing further move to boost its combat readiness, Director Public Relations and Information NAF Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, said the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, and other officials from the defence and finance ministries were in Italy to put finishing touches to arrangement towards acquiring the equipment.
“A team of NAF experts, led by the Chief of the Air Staff, along with officials from the Ministries of Defence and Finance, recently participated in a Programme Management Review Meeting in Italy with Messrs Leonardo S.P.A.
“The meeting aimed to finalise arrangements for the NAF’s acquisition of 24 M-346 Fighter Ground Attack jets as well as an additional 10 AW-109 Trekker helicopters to the two already procured by the NAF,” Akinboyewa said in a statement issued Sunday in Abuja.
The statement said the Nigeria delegation was assured that three of the 24 M-346 would be delivered by early 2025, while subsequent deliveries would run through mid-2026.
The NAF spokesman said: “In the Review Meeting, the CAS received updates on the delivery schedules, confirming that the first 3 units of 24 M-346 aircraft to be built for Nigeria are expected by early 2025, with subsequent deliveries running until mid-2026. Meanwhile, with two Trekkers already acquired, the additional 10 are expected by early 2026.”
“While in Italy, the CAS made a strategic stopover at the Leonardo Headquarters in Rome, where he engaged with top executives to consolidate a long-term partnership between the NAF and the company.
“He also inspected the first batch of six M-346 jets, noting that 3 are nearing completion, and evaluated key support systems required to boost the NAF’s operational readiness. He also stressed the need for a maintenance hub in Nigeria to provide long-term support, especially for the M-346 fleet.” Akinboyewa added.
While stating that the M-346 jets have advanced features capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, he said the M-346 would strengthen Nigeria’s air combat capabilities.
Also, Akinboyewa said, the AW-109 would further boost the combat support roles such as Combat Search and Rescue, tactical airlift and Medical Evacuation amongst others.
The statement added: “The M-346 and Trekker acquisitions are key steps towards fleet renewal, in consonance with the CAS Command Philosophy to transform the NAF for greater agility and resilience, with emphasis on the optimization of force structure and establishment for enhanced operational effectiveness.”
…Troops seize 230,000-litre crude
Meanwhile, the troops of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, alongside sister security agencies, seized stolen petroleum products, arrested oil thieves and frustrated attempts to steal crude oil from compromised pipelines across the Niger Delta region.
Also, they destroyed 37 illegal refining sites and intercepted 12 boats, nine vehicles and motorcycles used to convey the stolen items, and arrested 8 suspects with over 230,000 litres of crude recovered during the operations.
Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said this in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by Blueprint in Abuja.
According to him, troops, around Abesa general area in Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers state, destroyed one illegal refining site and recovered 9,000 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).
At ETEO SETRACO junction in Eleme local government area, Danjuma said the troops discovered one illegal connection point traced to a facility with a high elevated fence and discovered that the facility was a criminal loading point, where two tanker trucks were intercepted loading stolen crude.
“Similarly, in a separate operations conducted, troops recorded successes at Imo Riverside, resulting in the destruction of over 30 illegal refining sites, 44 cooking pots, six wooden boats, small tanker barge with over 20,000 litres of stolen products recovered.
“The products were recovered around Assa, Lekuma, Abiama and Okoloma, Oha-Obu, Ikwuriator East, Southern Ukanafun 1, Oyigbo and Obuzor Creeks. Along the Bolo Onne creeks, one inactive refining site with an oven, two receivers, one coolant and a long hose were destroyed.
“While, at road Omoku Elele, troops intercepted one Golf wagon vehicle with Reg No SSM 248 TH Abia State, conveying 17 sacks of stolen condensates, estimated to be over 1,200 litres. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush on sighting troops,” the statement said.
Danjuma further said: “The situation in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema LGA was the same, particularly along Egi River, where one illegal refining site, twelve drums, numerous sacks and two wooden boats were destroyed as well as over 3,500 litres of stolen crude confiscated.”
The military spokesman also said troops further recorded remarkable operational successes around Krakrama in Asari-Toru local government area , where an illegal refining site, and two locally made boats were destroyed with over 13,000 stolen products recovered.