Tinubu Inducts Five New Air Force Helicopters as Nigeria Steps Up Fight Against Insecurity

Follow

( 0 Followers )

X

Follow

E-mail : *

Follow Unfollow

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, October 29, 2026, inducted five newly acquired helicopters into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fleet and commissioned newly reconstructed hangars at the Presidential Air Fleet facility in Abuja, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to strengthen the country’s airpower and tackle insecurity.

The aircraft comprise two Airbus H-125 helicopters and three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters manufactured by Leonardo Helicopters of Italy. The induction ceremony took place at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. 

The acquisition forms part of the Federal Government’s ongoing programme to modernise and re-equip the Armed Forces amid persistent security challenges, including terrorism, kidnapping and banditry in different parts of the country.

According to the Nigerian Air Force, the three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters arrived in Lagos on September 15, 2026, as part of a larger order of 10 aircraft. The two Airbus H-125 helicopters had been delivered earlier, bringing the number of helicopters received under the latest acquisition to five.

The remaining seven AW-109 helicopters are expected to be delivered before the end of 2026, according to the Air Force. 

The military said the new aircraft would improve its operational flexibility and strengthen support for ground troops conducting security operations across multiple theatres.

The three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters are expected to support intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support, armed escort, combat search-and-rescue missions and other joint military operations.

The two H-125 helicopters will provide light helicopter support for a range of operational requirements, further expanding the Air Force’s ability to respond to emerging security threats.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, previously described the acquisition as a significant milestone in the government’s investment in the modernisation of the Nigerian Air Force.

He said the additional aircraft would improve asset availability and provide greater flexibility in deploying airpower in support of ground troops.

The Air Force has also emphasised the importance of ensuring that the new platforms are properly maintained and supported by adequate logistics, technical personnel and crew-readiness procedures to translate the investment into operational results. 

The commissioning of the reconstructed hangars is expected to strengthen the infrastructure available for accommodating and maintaining aircraft at the Presidential Air Fleet facility.

The latest induction comes as the Tinubu administration continues to pursue military equipment upgrades aimed at improving Nigeria’s capacity to respond to evolving security threats.

However, the impact of the new helicopters will ultimately depend on their operational deployment, maintenance, coordination with ground forces and the broader effectiveness of security operations across the country.