The establishment of the Nigeria Army Aviation Wing has brought joy to the Nigerian Army, as it is seen as a crucial enhancement to their operational capabilities. On June 21, 2024, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, announced that the BELL UH-1 Iroquois, HUEY helicopters arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. These aircraft, according to him, will play a crucial role in the provision of air support during ground operations.
Nwachukwu highlighted the various capabilities of Bell UH-1 Iroquois Helicopters, emphasizing their advanced sensors and capabilities that allow them to carry out a wide range of tasks such as reconnaissance, surveillance, rescue missions, Logistics support, transportation, and medical evacuations. In a recent announcement, it was revealed that the Nigerian Army has made progress in upgrading its operational abilities through the arrival of a new fleet of aircraft. This event signifies a major achievement for the Nigerian Army Aviation Wing.
Chief of Army Staff accepted the aircraft with gratitude.
This achievement will expands its air support capabilities for ground missions. Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja formally received the BELL UH-1H HUEY helicopters in a brief ceremony at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on June 20, 2024. The Chief of Army Staff accepted the aircraft with gratitude. Upon taking possession, General Lagbaja acknowledged that the idea to create an NA Aviation wing was initially developed by the former COAS, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah (retired), in 2014.
More so, the plan included a three-phase implementation spanning over a period of ten years. The COAS praised the former Chiefs of Army Staff for their perseverance and determination, highlighting how their hard work, combined with the dedication of personnel and the strong political support from the Nigerian Government, has played a crucial role in the success of the Army Aviation division. General Lagbaja conveyed his gratitude to the different government administrations for their assistance in training Nigerian Airforce pilots and ground crews.
Nigerian army is motivated to improve its service to Nigeria with the aircraft.
He also applauded them for establishing necessary infrastructure. The Chief of Army Staff expressed deep thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for keeping his word in funding the acquisition of Airforce platforms and offering full support to make the project a reality. The Army Chief expressed gratitude to the leaders who came before him, especially the various branches of the military and the Aviation wing of the Nigerian Police Force, for their assistance and motivation.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the Army is motivated to improve its service to the country with the addition of new equipment, aiming to create favourable conditions for Economic Growth for all Nigerians. During his speech, Brigadier General Musa Alkali, the Coordinator of NA Aviation, highlighted the importance of the newly arrived NA Aviation vanguard platforms in improving the operational capabilities. This development is in alignment with the COAS’s Command Philosophy and marks a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to strengthen the military’s capabilities.
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Alkali emphasized the importance of obtaining these platforms as a strong indication of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to aviation. This commitment began four decades ago and has since focused on enhancing and adjusting to changing Security challenges. He mentioned that these new platforms will greatly enhance the Army’s abilities in reconnaissance, surveillance, and air transportation. The Coordinator expressed gratitude for the hard work put in by all parties involved in carrying out the NA Aviation plan, including collaborators from around the world.