President Bola Tinubu will formally induct the Augusta 109S Trekker helicopter into the Presidential Air Fleet. The ceremony, expected to be attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will take place at the 011 Presidential Air Fleet Base.
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Nigerian Air Force’s 61st Anniversary Celebration, Air Commodore Sylvester Asuquo Eyoma disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja to officially kick-start the anniversary celebration with the theme; ‘Optimizing Civil-Military Relations in a Joint Operational Environment for Enhanced Air Operations’.
Eyoma also emphasised the Civil- Military Affairs events in which the NAF 61st anniversary forcused, noting that the president will also be inaugurating Quick Impact Projects across NAF operational theatres, one of which is a clinic that has been constructed in Rukubi Community in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where some civilians lost their lives in January 2023 due to an unfortunate airstrike.
He further revealed that that over 2,000 participants are expected at the Conference and Exhibitions scheduled for 22 and 23 May 2025 in Lagos.
He said NAF will be expecting over 30 air forces, 12 Chiefs of Air Staff, and 45 exhibitors, including major defence and aerospace players like Airbus, Embraer, Diamond Aircraft, HAVELSAN, Jet Aviation, Starlite Aviation Group, Proforce, and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, who are billed to participate in the Fourth African Air Forces Forum scheduled to hold in Lagos as part of activities to celebrate the NAF at 61.
Eyoma also announced that there will be a Research and Development competition and exhibition. The venue of the R&D competition is the Multipurpose Sports Centre at the NAF Base Asokoro. The high point of the R&D would be the signing of an MoU with Lagos State University for a joint committee that would conceptualize, develop and operationalize R&D projects for the benefit of both parties.
“Another MoU on technology acquisition and development would also be signed with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
"The high point of the colloquium will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Space Development between the NAF and the Space Development Centre, University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.
“To this end, the Nigerian Air Force has been at the forefront of efforts to combat insurgency, terrorism, banditry and other criminality across the nation through precision airstrikes, coordinated operations, and advanced surveillance. We have recorded significant operational successes.
These have contributed to weakening terrorists’ networks, disrupting their logistics, and supporting the ongoing efforts of our troops and other security agencies in tackling the myriad of security challenges bedevilling our dear nation. Therefore, today, we are celebrating 61 years of dedication to duty and unwavering commitment to protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty,” he said.