President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, inducted two brand-new Agusta 109 Trekker helicopters into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) inventory to boost Nigeria’s air power capability.

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Mr Tinubu at the induction ceremony at the Presidential Air Fleet Apron in Abuja.

The induction is part of the activities lined up to mark the 61st Anniversary of the NAF.

The president praised the commitment of the NAF in advancing national security objectives and assured continued support for defence modernisation.

He highlighted the NAF’s engagements in countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Mali, describing the air force as a “cynosure of operational excellence” and a source of pride for Nigeria.

“Today’s ceremony marks another milestone in our unwavering commitment to strengthen our armed forces, particularly the air force, towards a more secure country.

“This acquisition, made alongside platforms such as the Diamond-62 surveillance aircraft, the T-129 ATAK helicopters, and the King Air 360i aircraft, underscores our resolve to prioritise fleet modernisation and the welfare of our men and women in uniform,” the president said.

Mr Tinubu reiterated that security remained a top priority of his administration and assured the military of continued support in line with the eight priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Neither economic prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity,” he said, urging the armed forces to intensify efforts to address the challenges.

“My administration will remain steadfast in modernising the armed forces and investing in cutting-edge defence technologies to confront both conventional and asymmetric threats.

“This induction ceremony is not merely about adding new helicopters to our fleet; it is a strategic statement of intent, a demonstration of our collective resolve to defend our nation and reinforce Nigeria’s leadership in Africa,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Hasan Abubakar, described the induction as a major milestone in the service’s drive to modernise its fleet and enhance operational effectiveness across all theatres.

“It will strengthen our multi-domain operational capability, increase responsiveness, and enable efficient mission delivery,” he stated.

The CAS appreciated Mr Tinubu, members of the National Assembly, ministers, and Nigeria’s international partners for their unwavering support.

(NAN)