The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has procured 100 aircraft over the past decade to bolster its operations against insurgency and banditry in the North East and North West regions. In addition to counter-insurgency missions and enhancing operational efficiency, several of these aircraft have recently been deployed to combat oil theft in the Niger Delta.
An investigation by LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that the NAF has undergone significant transformation between 2014 and 2024, demonstrating notable proficiency in aerial surveillance, precision strikes, and tactical airlift capabilities, garnering commendation from global airpower experts.
It was learned that numerous new platforms have been integrated into the NAF Order of Battle, in response to the existential threats posed by terrorist and separatist groups. Notable platforms include the Super Mushshak, Mi-35M helicopter gunship, Bell 412 helicopter, Mi-171E, Agusta 109 helicopter, JF-17 Thunder multirole aircraft, A-29 Super Tucano, and various Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Among the aircraft inducted into the NAF’s operational arsenal are 12 AH-1 attack helicopters, 24 M-346 combat planes, 12 AW 109 multipurpose helicopters, two CASA 295 transport aircraft, a King Air 360I, a DA-62, MI-35S, two A109-P helicopters, two T-129 attack helicopters, and one King Air 360ER Beechcraft.
Additionally, the NAF anticipates the induction of another 50 brand-new aircraft of varying types to enhance its intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strike capabilities. Recently, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar finalised a contract with Messrs Leonardo to procure another 24 jets and 10 helicopters.
Military sources defending this latest acquisition asserted that procuring aircraft is not akin to purchasing conventional equipment.
One anonymous NAF source remarked, “An aircraft is not like a puff-puff that you can simply buy at the market; you must place an order, and the manufacturers will produce it over a period of time. Sometimes, this process can take up to five years.”
Regarding the incidence of crashes, the officer explained that increased operational activity inevitably leads to heightened risks.
LEADERSHIP Sunday reported that the NAF experienced 17 air crashes between 2015 and 2024, losing 18 aircraft and 33 personnel. The most recent incident involved a Super Mushshak trainer aircraft that crashed on March 7, 2024, in Kaduna, although both pilots survived.
Veteran pilots have suggested that some crashes may stem from pilot error, engineering failures, or adverse weather conditions, ultimately resting on the pilot’s judgement.
“Piloting demands unwavering focus to navigate from point A to B. After extensive training, one would expect pilots to perform competently. Occasionally, accidents occur, and we leave it to divine providence, as it can be difficult to pinpoint exact causes without another observer to identify errors. In cases where both the pilot and co-pilot perish, we must rely on the black box and subsequent investigations,” one veteran stated.
Another veteran pilot added, “Broad societal challenges impact us from our formative years. Our attitudes towards life have become problematic. Piloting is a grave responsibility; once you take off, it is just you and that aircraft. You must set aside any external concerns until you safely land.”
Economy Not Viable for Such Gigantic Project – Security Expert
Commenting on the NAF’s ambitions to acquire further aircraft, Dr. Abdullahi Muhammed Jabi, director of media and publicity at the International Institute of Professional Security (IIPS), characterised the procurement as insensitive given the precarious economic conditions many Nigerians face.
He stated, “Nigeria is not engaged in full-scale warfare, and the insurgents lack aerial capabilities. I believe we do not require more aircraft at this juncture, considering the fragile state of our economy and the challenges confronting our citizens.
“While some equipment is necessary to address this conflict, the scale of this procurement is excessive at present.
“They could have converted some of those private aircraft that the federal government has seized in various places to do this job for the time being. That would have been better than going for outright procurement. The economy is not in order, and we should not see procurement as an avenue where some officers make money. That is not the way to go.
“They are doing their best, but there is still some equipment that they can use internally to fight that war. I’m not in support of large equipment procurement at this moment,” he said.
Timeline of NAF Plane Crashes
A Nigerian Air Force MI-171 helicopter, engaged in a casualty evacuation mission, crashed on August 14, 2023, at 1 PM near Chukuba Village in Niger State, with an estimated cost of $16.4 million. The NAF confirmed that the aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
On February 6, 2023, a NAF maritime patrol aircraft, a Cessna Citation CJ3, belly-landed in Lagos. The aircraft was performing a routine flight when it lost its tyres during a touch-and-go manoeuvre in Ilorin, Kwara State, necessitating a controlled belly landing at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. Fortunately, there were no fatalities or injuries among the crew or individuals on the ground.
On July 14, 2023, an NAF FT-7NI trainer aircraft crashed in Makurdi, Benue State, during a training exercise. The two pilots on board successfully ejected and survived the incident, with no loss of life or damage to property in the vicinity.
In total, there were four air crashes in 2021 and one in 2022. On February 21, 2021, a NAF King Air 350 (NAF201 B350) crashed while returning to Abuja after reporting an engine failure, resulting in the deaths of seven personnel. Additionally, on March 31, 2021, a NAF Alpha Jet (NAF475) went missing after losing radar contact in Borno State; its wreckage was discovered nearly a year later by Nigerian Army troops in Sambisa Forest. The NAF later identified the pilots as Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele.
On May 21, 2021, another NAF aircraft crashed at Kaduna International Airport, claiming the lives of the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, and ten other officers, including the crew. On July 18, 2021, suspected bandits shot down an NAF Alpha Jet in Zamfara State around 12:45 PM, although no casualties were reported. The valiant pilot, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected from the aircraft and evaded intense ground fire, seeking refuge in a nearby settlement until sunset.
Other incidents include a Dornier 228 crash on August 29, 2015, an FT-7NI fighter jet crash on October 10, 2015, and an Agusta Westland 101 helicopter crash in Makurdi on November 15, 2016. On July 6, 2017, another Agusta 109 helicopter crashed, followed by two FT-7NI jets crashing on September 28, 2018, during rehearsals.
Further crashes involved an MI-35 helicopter gunship on January 2, 2019, and a military helicopter on June 12, 2019. An RV-GA Air Beetle crashed on August 17, 2019, and an Agusta Westland 109 crashed on November 14, 2019. A Beechcraft King Air 350i crashed on February 21, 2020, followed shortly by an Alpha Jet going missing in Borno State on March 31, 2020.
The NAF recorded another King Air 350 crash on May 21, 2021, and an Alpha Jet crash on July 18, 2021. A Super Mushshak trainer aircraft crashed in Kaduna on April 19, 2022, with another crash occurring on March 7, 2024, in which both pilots survived.
