Missing Fund: Buhari To Take Delivery Of Military Aircrafts After Two Years Of Purchase #OsazuwaAkonedo
Nigeria government may in July this year take delivery of six out of the twelve Super Tucanos military air crafts the government paid for two years ago.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu and made available to the media few hours ago.
The hopeful delivery of the arms is coming barely a week after controversies caused by the statement reportedly credited to the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mongonu that funds meant for the purchase of arms were missing and no evidence of purchase were seen under the immediate past service chiefs.
The Presidency denied the statement, saying Babagana Mongonu statement was misrepresented.
Garba Shehu said there are 14 Nigerian pilots currently undergoing training at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia and the expected six out of the twelve purchased air crafts will arrive Nigeria in mid-July, 2021.
Garba Shehu stated in quote: “Six of the twelve Super Tucanos are on track to arrive in mid-July 2021.
“With the remaining six shortly after that.
“There are 14 Nigerian pilots currently training at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia.
“The Super Tucanos came off the production line in Jacksonville Florida and are now being equipped and flight tested.
“Nigerian pilots and maintenance personnel are training on these planes.
“Currently, the construction is ongoing, which will house the aircraft.
“The Air-Ground-Integration school is the training hub on targeting and minimization of civilian casualties.
“At present, five Nigerian Super Tucanos are at Moody A.F.B in Georgia for pilot and maintainer training.
“The two companies released images of the sixth aircraft, which also will be flown to Moody, in a jungle camouflage scheme.
“The painted jungle scheme N.A.F A-29 now moves on to mission modification at Moody Air Force Base,” says S.N.C.
“Following modification, before delivery,(Nigerian Air Force) N.A.F pilots and maintenance personnel will further train in the aircraft.”
“In November 2018, S.N.C was awarded a $329 million (dollar) Foreign Military Sales contract from the US government to build 12 A-29s for the Nigerian air force.
“The armed turboprops are intended for use against Boko Haram and Islamic State militants”.
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