2019 Election: Nigeria Airforce Begins Airlift of INEC Sensitive Materials - Photos

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), yesterday, 11 February 2019, commenced the airlift of electoral materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the country for the conduct of the 2019 General Elections. The airlift exercise includes day and night missions, during which both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials were conveyed in batches, with NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to various airports across the country. The materials were duly delivered by the C-130H aircraft crew to teams of INEC and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officials together with security personnel waiting at the various airports.

It may be recalled that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during his meeting with Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) and NAF Field Commanders on 1 February 2019, had expressed the readiness of the NAF to avail INEC its transport aircraft to enable expeditious movement of electoral materials, as done in the past. It is pertinent to state that the transport aircraft are deployed solely to provide airlift support to meet INEC’s logistics requirements, in fulfillment of NAF’s constitutional role of providing Military Aid to Civil Authority.

Nigeria Air Force Helicopter Goes Missing In Combat Fight In Borno State

In less than 3 days into the new year, we seem to be back into some drama or should we say some tragedy news?

A combat helicopter of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has gone missing while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno State.

The development was confirmed in a statement by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force.

Air Commodore Ibikunle noted in his statement that the details of the incident are still sketchy and will be made known soon when investigations are done.

The full statement by the NAF spokesman reads, “A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Helicopter was lost in combat while providing close air support to troops of 145 Battalion at Damasak in Northern Borno State.

“The mission was part of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the North East. The incident, occurred about 7:45 pm today, 2 January 2019.

“Details of the cause of the crash are still scanty. As soon as the details of the crash are known, they will be made available to the public.