The Federal Government has established an aviation wing for the Nigerian Army, and acquired fighter helicopters for its operations. According to the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the BELL UH-1H, HUEY helicopters were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Friday. He noted that the establishment of the Nigeria Army Aviation Wing would help strengthen operations. Nwachukwu said the BELL UH-1H Helicopters were equipped with advanced sensors and enablers to conduct a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, rescue, logistics, transportation and medical evacuation.

A 24-year-old protester has been shot dead during a mass protest against a new taxation bill currently being pushed by authorities in Kenya. The deceased is one of the front-liner who took part in the ongoing protest in the capital, Nairobi, since yesterday, Thursday evening, as thousands of people took to the streets across the country.

The Nigeria Army (NA) is set to receive the delivery of fighter aircrafts in Abuja which was made known in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukuwu. The statement partly reads, “The Nigerian Army Aviation is set to take delivery of its first batch of aircraft today. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja will subsequently launch the aircraft into operations upon arrival in Nigeria.”

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has disclosed that the Nigeria Army (NA) plans to deploy the 5,937 soldiers to fight banditry, cattle rustling and related crimes nationwide. He made this known during the passing out parade for the 86 Regular Recruit intake of the Depot Nigeria Army in Zaria on Saturday. He said, “The fresh products passing out today will form part of the solutions to the challenge of insurgency in the North-East, banditry and cattle rustling in the North-West.

The Federal Government, Friday, ordered the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to take over the protection of transmission lines and towers. The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo made this remark during the passing out parade of the second batch of mining marshals of NSCDC in Abuja. Expressing deep concern over the constant vandalism of transmission lines, towers and transformers, Tunji-Ojo described the oft-repeated vandalism of the critical national assets as economic sabotage, which must be dealt with.

Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, has dismissed reports that the Nigerian airspace is not covered by radar. Describing the claim as false and misleading, Managing Director of NAMA, Umar Farouk, said the radar services in Kano, Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt were serviceable. Farouk, in a statement, said although the Terminal Radar Approach Control, TRACON system, was undergoing an upgrade of software and modernization, radar services for terminal and Enroute flights were positively identified to provide air navigation services to airspace users.