The Nigerian Air Force on Monday insisted that the subsisting contractual agreement between the Federal Government and the United States for the supply of 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft still stands.
This came in reaction to comments credited to the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Mike Nnachi, while briefing the Senate Appropriation Committee on the 2021 NAF Budget proposal last Thursday. The Senate Committee on Air Force had said Nigeria stood the risk of losing $493m paid to the United States for the purchase of the Super Tucano fighter jets due to the bad runway at Kainji.
However, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola in a statement in Abuja on Monday said Nnachi’s statement was misinterpreted.
He explained that six of the expected 12 aircraft have been produced and are presently being employed for conversion training of six NAF pilots who are in the United States of America.
Recall that the FG in 2018 paid $493m to the US for the purchase of the jets to tackle insurgency and other security challenges facing the country.
Daramola in the statement said, “The NAF wishes to state that the reports, which were purportedly drawn from remarks made by the Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Air Force while briefing the Senate Appropriation Committee on the 2021 NAF Budget proposal, were clearly taken out of context.”
“For the avoidance of doubts, it is necessary to state that the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft project is on track to be delivered on schedule and in accordance with the Terms of the Contract. Currently, 6 of the expected 12 aircraft have been produced and are presently being employed for conversion training of 6 NAF pilots who are in the USA, along with 26 NAF engineers, technicians and logisticians, who are also undergoing various trainings on the aircraft as part of the provisions of the Contract.”
“Another set of 35 personnel are also scheduled to join them early next year. In addition, a team from the USA is currently in Kainji overseeing the construction of critical infrastructure provided in the Contract ahead of the delivery of the aircraft.”
“Meanwhile, the about 40-year old 407 ACTG Kainji Runway, which has been in use for more than the number of years estimated as its lifespan, has been earmarked for resurfacing. In this regard, the National Assembly, through the Senate and House Committees on Air Force, as well as the Federal Government are working assiduously to secure funding for the resurfacing.”
“The United States Government, on its part, has also assured of its commitment to delivering the 12 aircraft within the agreed timelines, while the NAF will continue to work to emplace necessary infrastructure to ensure that the aircraft can be effectively utilized immediately they arrive the Country.”