Nigeria Buys 10 Trainer War Planes, Helicopter Gunship From Pakistan, Russia
Editor
Posted On Dec 4, 2016
Determined to better equip Air Force personnel to combat insurgency, Nigeria has purchased 10 trainer aircraft from Pakistan.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sidique Abubakar, who disclosed this said Russia is also due to deliver a helicopter gunship recently purchased.
Air Marshal Abubakar disclosed this in Abuja on Saturday, during breakfast interaction with representatives of major online newspapers.
He however, lamented that the politics involved in the sale of military hardware is affecting Nigeria, saying even with our money, some countries are not willing to sell to us.
According to him, “Right now, we are expecting the Pakistan Chief of Air Staff in Nigeria today.
“Pakistan has accepted to sell 10 trainer aircraft to Nigeria.
“That’s why he is coming to the country. We are also expecting a helicopter gunship from Russia before the end of this month.
“As a developing country, we don’t produce aircraft. Even the process of getting spare parts is hard. There is a lot of politics involved even when you have the money.
“Sometimes, I see online comments: ‘Why is Nigeria operating this old aircraft.’ I just laugh. People don’t know.
“Even if you have your money you might not see one to buy, even spare parts. That’s why we are forced to go into research and development.
“To get just quotation to buy spare parts, sometimes it takes four months to get a response depending on the relationship you have with the country.
“It is not easy. Some will say why are we not buying F16? But will the owner of F16 sell to you even if you have money.”
The CAS said, Nigeria is enjoying support from friendly countries despite the fact that many of them are not willing to sell military hardware to Nigeria.
On efforts to build capacity of Air Force personnel, Abubakar said about 700 personnel have been trained in different parts of the world to enhance their capacity to combat insurgency.
He said the focus is on upgrading of combat aircrafts, capacity building and welfare of airmen and other personnel as they join the soldiers to fight insurgency in the northeast.
The CAS disclosed that the British Royal Air Force has so far trained about 150 NAF officers so as to be able to cope with security emergencies at the nation’s airports.
