Insecurity – President Tinubu okays payment for 12 attack helicopters for Army aviation
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved payment for the procurement of 12 attack helicopters for the Nigerian Army.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, announced this at the opening of the maiden Nigerian Army Aviation Seminar yesterday in Abuja.
The COAS said the 12 MD 530F Cayuse attack helicopters would operationalise the Nigerian army aviation unit, which was set up to improve ground troops’ agility, responsiveness, and efficacy during operations.
He added that the attack helicopters would also contribute to the overall operational success of joint and coalition troops.
Lagbaja said the Army Aviation is separate from dedicated Air Force though usually equipped with helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft.
The COAS expressed appreciation to the President for buying into the aspiration of the Nigerian Army to have an equipped aviation unit, which would support ground troops as they focus on tactical and operational engagements.
According to him, the experiences of other nations, like the United States (U.S.A.), Pakistan, Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda, are instructive in this area.
“The Army aviation arms of these countries have shown effectiveness in countering contemporary security threats and providing vital support to ground forces.
“In view of the need to realise this, and in its bid to appropriately respond to contemporary and emerging security threats, the Nigerian Army resuscitated its aviation aspiration in 2014.
“I am happy to inform this gathering that the Nigerian Army is willing to learn from the army aviation journeys of the countries mentioned earlier.
“Our willingness to learn from them is to adapt their best practices to suit our unique operational environment and avoid their mistakes,” he said.
“I can proudly report that since 2014, the Nigerian Army has made commendable progress in training pilots, aircraft engineers, technicians, and other ground support crew,” he said.
The COAS said that the army had submitted the aviation outfit to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for proper mentoring.
On the seminar, Gen. Lagbaja said it was meant to discuss likely challenges the unit may face and proffer innovative solutions.
“Therefore, this seminar is a platform for us to deliberate on critical issues and share invaluable insights regarding the future of the Nigerian army aviation, even before that future comes upon us.
“Ideas generated from our deliberations are expected to help strengthen the capabilities through capacity building, infrastructure development and guide further acquisition of cutting-edge platforms and technologies,” he added.
The Acting Coordinator of the Nigerian Army Aviation, Brig.-Gen. Musa Alkali, said the unit would play pivotal roles in bolstering ground operations and addressing the current security challenges confronting the nation.
The Nation
