The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, yesterday said more fighter jets would arrive in the country soon to combat Boko Haram insurgents.

And contrary to media reports that the United States (U.S.) was blocking Nigeria from acquiring more assault aircraft to prosecute the counter-insurgency operations, Abubakar said the country was not opposed to the moves to end terrorism in the north east.

Air Marshal Abubakar said this while answering questions at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Operations seminar in Abuja. “All I can tell you is that the U.S. is supporting in the north east, they are helping us with a lot of intelligence, so I don’t see any reason we should have difficulties.”

While delivering his address at the seminar, Abubakar said the Air Force was expecting 10 aircraft of various specifications from Brazil, Russia and Pakistan. From Brazil, Mi-35 helicopters, Super Tucano and JF-17 Thunder are expected while additional 10 Mushack primary trainer aircraft are to be acquired from Pakistan to boost the capacity of the NAF.

According to Abubakar, not less than 13 aircraft which were hitherto kept out of use have been reactivated since he took over the mantle of leadership of the Air Force. He said the number of intakes into the service had also been expanded to accommodate 2,500 recruits as against the 500 who were there.

According to him, all these efforts are to ensure that the service meets the demands placed on it by the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the north east.

Also ongoing is the training of nearly 70 pilots at home and abroad, training of personnel in other different fields, particularly special forces with skills in counter-terrorism, anti-hijacking as well as the creation of regiment groups that would soon be commissioned in Zamfara, Imo, Bauchi and Osun states. He also said a NAF Air war College (AWC) was established in Makurdi.

•Excerpted from a Guardian report. Photo shows Air Marshal Abubakar.

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