TINUBU: NO ROOM FOR CELEBRATION UNTIL MILITARY ENDS INSECURITY, RETURNS TO NIGERIA
commissioning of the T-129 ATAK helicopters and King Air 360i aircraft into the Service.
“At this juncture, I hereby induct the 2 x T -129 ATAK helicopters as NAF 500 and NAF 501 and King Air 360i as NAF 205 into the Service of the Nigerian Air Force and our country."
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, said the acquisition and induction of the T129 Atak helicopter and Beechcraft King Air 360i aircraft was a testimony of the federal government's unwavering resolve to equip and empower the air force and enhance its capacity to address security challenges confronting the country, in conjunction with sister forces and security agencies.
Abubakar thanked Tinubu for the provision to enable the Nigerian Air Force to acquire seven brand-new aircraft within six months of his administration.
He disclosed that the air force was currently overhauling its operational platforms, equipment and the entire environment to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Speaking at the occasion, Minister of Defence, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru, said the induction of the new platforms for the Air Force was a testimony of Tinubu's resolve to add impetus to the armed forces' fight against security challenges in the country.
Badaru commended the armed forces for the commitment to executing their assignments in line with the counter-terrorism plan of the present administration. He urged the military to imbibe a positive maintenance culture in utilising platforms purchased by the government. Senate Grills Service Chiefs Today
The senate said it would grill the service chiefs today and tomorrow over the deplorable state of security in the country. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, stated this while addressing journalists.
Abiru said the planned interface with Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, was shifted from Tuesday to Friday, since Wednesday and Thursday had been slated for questioning the service chiefs by the senate. He said the invitation had been extended to members of the President's Economic Team.
The senate had by its resolution last Tuesday, summoned the service chiefs to appear before it in plenary for explanations on the worsening security situation in the country.
The committee on banking had last week, also, summoned the CBN governor to appear before it yesterday on the state of the country's economy and free flow of the naira.
Members of the committee were already gathered at the venue of the planned interface with the CBN governor when it was obvious that Cardoso would have been overstressed in the House of Representatives.
Abiru said, "After waiting for close to two hours for the CBN governor on the planned interface, we have resolved to postpone it to Friday this week by 9:00am prompt.
"Postponement of the interface between our committee and the CBN governor arose from the fact that he and other managers of the nation's economy have been interfacing with our colleagues in the House of Representatives since morning without knowing when exactly the session would end.