America offers to sell super aircraft to Nigeria
*US, Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington
(Nigeria) The United States, US, Ambassador to Nigeria,
Stuart Symington, today presented the Letters of Offer and Acceptance, LOA, in
respect of the A29 Super Tucano Aircraft to the Nigerian Air Force, NAF.
Nigerian Air Force, Director of Public Relations and
Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya in a statement, said that “The
LOA represents the official US Government offer to sell US defence articles and
services to the Nigerian government. Speaking while presenting the LOA to the
Chief of the Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, at NAF Headquarters
in Abuja, the US Ambassador noted that peaceful existence in Nigeria was
strategic to the security of the entire West African Sub-Region in particular
and the entire world at large.
“Accordingly, Ambassador Symington expressed the commitment
of the US Government to helping Nigeria completely defeat the Boko Haram
Terrorists and also eliminate all forms of terrorism from its territory.
“In addition, he conveyed the US Government’s belief that
the capacity of the NAF could greatly be enhanced by the acquisition of the
Super Tucano Aircraft.
“According to him, the US Government would therefore
continue to support the NAF in its capacity building efforts, including the
timely supply of needed aircraft spares.
“The US Ambassador also indicated the readiness of relevant
US Government officials to work with NAF officials to facilitate the early
delivery of the aircraft once payment had been made. In that regard, officials
of both the US Government and the NAF would be meeting in early January 2018 to
jointly study the LOA prior to subsequent endorsements by both parties.
“The CAS, while receiving the LOA, expressed the
appreciation to the US Government for its steady support towards sustaining NAF
air operations. He also praised the personal commitment of the US Ambassador to
ensuring that the Super Tucano Aircraft deal became a reality.
“Air Marshal Abubakar agreed with Ambassador Symington that
the wellbeing of Nigeria was closely linked to those of other African
countries, and indeed the entire world, as terrorism is a global phenomenon,
which had to be confronted by all stakeholders.
“He then reassured the US Ambassador of the commitment of
the NAF to the stipulated deadlines in the LOA. Furthermore, the CAS assured
the US Ambassador that the NAF will ensure the readiness of proposed home base
of the Super Tucano Aircraft in Nigeria before the aircraft’s delivery.
“He further said that the NAF would nominate and prepare all
the pilots and maintenance crew to be trained on the Super Tucano Aircraft,
ahead of their training in the US.
“It is expected that the LOA would have been signed and
necessary payments made before 20 February 2018 to ensure the commencement of
production of the NAF’s Super Tucano Aircraft. It would be recalled that the US
State Department had earlier approved the sale of 12 x A29 Super Tucano
Aircraft to the NAF to further aid the nation’s counterinsurgency campaign,”
the statement added.
Comments
Post a Comment