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By Philip Nwosu
The Ministry of Defence has handed over three Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters to the Nigerian Navy to boost its effort in fighting oil thieves.
The new acquisitions are expected to enhance the Navy’s operational capabilities, particularly in long-range transport, reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue missions.
The handover event was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice) were Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary; Raji Isiaka Ogunshola, Director of Navy Affairs; and Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information.
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Caverton Group President Remi Makanjuola and Managing Director Group Captain Bello (retired), were also present.
The Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters, known for their advanced VIP configuration, are equipped with leather interiors and noise attenuation systems. Designed with landing skids for enhanced loading capacity, they also feature auxiliary tanks, allowing for an extended endurance of up to 3 hours and 40 minutes. These helicopters can be further retrofitted for specific mission requirements, enabling versatile deployment for military needs such as air reconnaissance, air insertion, search and rescue, and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).
Vice Admiral Ogalla thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his ongoing support of the Nigerian Armed Forces and expressed appreciation to the Minister of Defence and Minister of State for Defence for their roles in facilitating the acquisition.
He noted that these helicopters would play a crucial role in enhancing the Nigerian Navy’s operations and its capacity to respond to diverse mission demands.
