Nigeria to receive Tucano fighter jets in Q2 2021

Nigeria will take delivery of the Tucano fighter jets it ordered in 2029 from the United States in the second quarter of 2021, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has said.

Abubakar stated this on Friday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, to defend the 2021 budget proposal of the Air Force.

He said the Air Force would also acquire eight unmanned aerial vehicles from China and three JF17 thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan next year.

Abubakar told the lawmakers that the Air Force had acquired 22 aircraft in recent times and was expecting 17 more, in addition to the three special mission aircraft it was expecting under the Deep Blue project of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

He appealed for an increase in the amount proposed for the overhead cost, noting that the N8.8bn proposed for this in the 2021 fiscal year was grossly inadequate.

He said, “The overhead cost of the service has remained constant at N8.8bn despite the increase in the number of personnel and formations.

“We have acquired additional infrastructure but in spite of that, not much has changed in terms of the overhead. We have increased by about 11 units. These are located in Agatu in Benue State, Gembi in Taraba State, Damaturu in Yobe State, Ikirun in Osun State, we are expanding the unit in Ipetu Ijesa. We have also established an FOB in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State.

”The running cost of these units is something that is weighing heavily on the Air Force. That is why we are appealing for increase in the overhead cost. In terms of personnel, the Air Force has grown to over 11,000 personnel and right now, we are recruiting an additional 1,000. So, it is huge in terms of the infrastructure.

“For the platforms we have created, we have acquired 22 aircraft and we are expecting 17 more. In addition, we are expecting to get three special mission aircraft under the deep blue project of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

”I have intimated you of the eight UAVs we are expecting from China. With this number of platforms, the number of personnel have increased and the expansion of the units, definitely the current overhead will be inadequate. The 2021 budget proposal is tailored towards acquiring more platforms and maintaining existing platforms.

“NAF intends to intensify its procurement of spare parts, as well as arms and ammunition. Emphasis will also be placed on ongoing infrastructural development in newly established bases such as Gombe and existing NAF buildings to cater for the welfare of personnel and their families.”

Abubakar gave a breakdown of the proposed capital expenditure as “three JF17 thunder fighter aircraft that the Air Force is acquiring from Pakistan and we are proposing about N17.3bn for this, while the procurement of targeting bolts for the JF17 thunder aircraft will gulp N3.7bn.

“We have up to N2.5bn for barrack upgrade because the Super Tocano aircraft is coming to Kainji and the runway there is not in shape. We don’t want to go for contract because the cost of doing that runway will be too much.”