By Milcah Tanimu
On November 12, 2024, the Nigerian Navy received three Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters, procured by the Ministry of Defence.
The handover took place during a brief ceremony in Lagos. Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, Director of Naval Information, confirmed the delivery in a statement on Wednesday.
Handover Ceremony Details
Adams-Aliu explained that the Ministry of Defence officially handed over the helicopters to the Navy. The ceremony occurred at Ikeja, Lagos, with the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, and other senior officers present.
Gratitude for Support
Vice Admiral Ogalla expressed his gratitude to the Ministers of Defence, Abubakar Badaru and Bello Matawelle, for facilitating the procurement process. He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his continuous support of the Nigerian Navy.
Helicopter Features and Capabilities
The new helicopters are configured for VIP use, featuring full leather interiors and a noise attenuation system. Designed with landing skids, they offer better loading capacity than wheeled helicopters. Additionally, the AW 109 Trekker helicopters come equipped with auxiliary tanks, extending their endurance to up to 3 hours and 40 minutes.
Adams-Aliu noted that the helicopters could be retrofitted with mission-specific equipment, making them versatile for various operations, including air reconnaissance, search and rescue, and MEDEVAC.
