In a bold move to strengthen Nigeria’s aerial defence capabilities, President Bola Tinubu on Friday inducted two brand-new Agusta 109 Trekker helicopters into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fleet.
The ceremony, held at the Presidential Air Fleet Apron in Abuja, was part of activities marking the 61st Anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force. President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, described the event as a strategic step in enhancing national security and reaffirming Nigeria’s regional military leadership.
“Today’s ceremony marks another milestone in our unwavering commitment to strengthen our Armed Forces, particularly the Air Force, towards a more secured country,” the President declared.
He praised the NAF for its critical roles in operations across The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Mali, describing the force as “a cynosure of operational excellence” and a symbol of national pride.
According to Tinubu, the induction of the helicopters, alongside other recently acquired platforms like the Diamond-62 surveillance aircraft, the T-129 ATAK helicopters, and the King Air 360i, underscores his administration’s dedication to defence modernisation.
“This acquisition… underscores our resolve to prioritise fleet modernisation and the welfare of our men and women in uniform,” he said.
The President reiterated that national security remains paramount under his administration, stating that, “neither economic prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity.”
He emphasised the importance of a well-equipped military, not only in safeguarding the nation but also in protecting democracy itself.
“My administration will remain steadfast in modernising the Armed Forces and investing in cutting-edge defence technologies to confront both conventional and asymmetric threats,” he assured.
“This induction ceremony is not merely about adding new helicopters to our fleet; it is a strategic statement of intent, a demonstration of our collective resolve to defend our nation and reinforce Nigeria’s leadership in Africa,” Tinubu added.
Also speaking at the event, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, hailed the induction as a landmark achievement in the force’s ongoing drive to upgrade its fleet and improve mission readiness.
“The dynamic security landscape of our nation demands an agile, well-equipped, and responsive Air Force,” he said.
Abubakar described the Agusta 109 Trekker as a “versatile, light twin-engine multi-role helicopter” capable of supporting joint operations, reconnaissance, close air support, and humanitarian efforts.
“It will strengthen our multi-domain operational capability, increase responsiveness, and enable efficient mission delivery,” the Air Chief noted.
He also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the National Assembly, relevant ministries, and Nigeria’s international partners for their steadfast support to the Air Force’s modernisation drive.
With this induction, the Nigerian Air Force moves one step closer to realising its strategic vision of becoming an agile and adaptive force, ready to meet the demands of modern warfare and peacekeeping.
