The Nigerian government has approved the acquisition of 12 attack helicopters for the army, according to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja on Tuesday.
He gave a speech to open the Nigerian Army Aviation’s first seminar on aviation security awareness at the Army Headquarters Command Officers’ Mess 1 in Abuja.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria in support of the operationalization of Nigerian Army Aviation has approved the acquisition of the initial 12 MD 530F Cayuse Attack Helicopters that will actualize the operationalization of the Nigerian Army (NA) Aviation to effectively tackle security challenges bedeviling the country,” a statement from the Army’s Director Of Public Relations Onyema Nwachukwu read.
“The acquisition of the new attack helicopters is part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to boost the operational capabilities of the Army Aviation to appropriately respond to contemporary and emerging security threats.”
“General Lagbaja further revealed that since 2014, the Nigerian Army has made commendable progress in training pilots, aircraft engineers, technicians, and other ground support crews, adding that the Nigerian Army understands the highly technical nature of the aviation business and the need to be appropriately mentored, hence its international collaborations and submission of its nascent aviation outfit to the mentoring of the Nigerian Air Force, as the Service does not have the luxury of making mistakes when it can learn from other experienced aviation outfits,” he added.