The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has disclosed that the new aircraft would be deployed to Benin to boost the fight against insurgency and ensure that the maritime environment is secured.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Air Force boss disclosed this during his inspection of some facilities in Benin on Saturday.
Abubakar added that the special aircraft would add values to the security arrangement of the Nigeria Maritime environment.
He said, “The special mission aircraft will add value to the security arrangement of the Nigeria maritime environment and I believe that the unit will play a very crucial role in ensuring that the maritime environment is equally secured.
“We are very happy with the level of contribution you have been making as a unit to our efforts at ensuring that our country is secured.
“The ATR 42 aircraft which operates from Benin is all over the country. It has been in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Minna in Niger, making sure the country is safe.”
He also commended the hanger facility in Benin. However, he added that there would be need for aircraft shelter and other ground support equipment in order for the operations of the aircraft to be deployed possible.
