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Friday, March 19, 2021

U.S. to deliver six fighter jets in July: Presidency

In 2018 alone, Mr. Buhari approved the sum of $1billion to enable the military confront Boko Haram insurgency.

• March 18, 2021
Garba Shehu
Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu (Credit: Facebook)

Nigerian government said the country will take delivery of the first batch of Super Tucanos aircraft in mid-July from the United States of America.

A presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in a tweet Thursday said six out of 12 fighter jets ordered by the government would arrive in July.

“Six of the twelve Super Tucanos are on track to arrive in mid-July 2021. With the remaining six shortly after that.

“There are 14 Nigerian pilots currently training at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia,” Mr. Shehu said.

The fighter jets were ordered by Abuja during President Muhammadu Buhari’s first tenure in office under the leadership of the immediate past service chiefs. The purchase generated a furore as the president failed to secure National Assembly’s acquiescence before signing off the deal.

Last week, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno in an interview with BBC Hausa, accused Tukur Buratai, former army chief, and his counterparts in the Navy and Air Force of misappropriating funds given to them to purchase weapons and other military hardware.

Mr. Buhari had approved billions of naira during the tenure of the immediate past service chiefs to purchase weapons.

In 2018 alone, Mr. Buhari approved the sum of $1billion to enable the military confront Boko Haram insurgency, banditry and other forms of security challenges confronting the country.

Mr. Monguno during the interview, disclosed that the president is going to probe funds misappropriated for weapons.

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