Nigeria expecting 12 fighter jets to handle insecurity, says Emefiele

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has said the country is expecting 12 fighter jets.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, in 2018, approved $496m for the procurement of the aircraft to boost Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram.

The presidency has also announced that Nigeria will take delivery of six of the jets by July.

According to Emefiele, the fighter jets will help address the rising security challenges in the country.

“If you want an economy to grow, the level of insecurity must be low because if there is a high level of insecurity like what we see today, the economy will suffer,” he said.

He added, “Efforts are now targeted at south-eastern and north-eastern parts of the country. About three years ago, the Federal Government and the United States signed a pact that resulted in a government-to-government acquisition of military equipment, out of which, we are expecting 12 fighter planes that would help us solve our insecurity. I am aware that six of them are coming to the country in the month of July and August.”

He, however, expressed optimism that before the end of the year, the security challenges confronting the country would substantially reduce.