The United States of America (USA) has explained why Nigeria is yet to take delivery of twelve A-29 Super Tucano ground attack aircraft and weapons the country has ordered since 2017 to fight Boko Haram insurgency.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Colonel Authur Ford of the United States Air Force Fighters and Advance Aircraft Directorate gave the explanation when a National Assembly (NASS) team led by Senator Michael Nnachi visited the aircraft manufacturers, Embraer Defence Security Incorporated (EDSI) in the U.S. on Thursday.
Recall headquarters of the United States Department of Defence, the Pentagon, first made the twelve A-29 Super Tucano deal public in 2017, informing the US Congress of the sale of the ground attack aircraft and weapons to Nigeria.
The A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, an agile, propeller-driven plane with reconnaissance and surveillance as well as attack capabilities, is made by Brazil’s Embraer.
On arrival at EDSI on 27 May 2021, the NASS team queried A-29 Super Tucano aircraft manufacturers over delay in delivery of the ground attack aircraft and weapons ordered by Nigeria valued at $593m (N181bn).
TNG reports the visit of the NASS team was part of the oversight functions of the NASS Joint Committee on Defence and Air Force for an inspection tour of EDSI, manufacturers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, and specifically to assess the status and progress of work on the NAF A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.
On arrival at EDSI on 27 May 2021, the NASS team was briefed on the progress of work on the NAF A-29 Super Tucano programme and the scheduled date of delivery.
While briefing the NASS team, Colonel Authur Ford of the United States Air Force Fighters and Advance Aircraft Directorate stated that 10 out of the 12 aircraft were ready for delivery while 2 were undergoing modification and integration to NAF specific operational configuration.
He went on to state that 6 of the aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Nigeria in July 2021 while the remaining 6 will be delivered before the end of October 2021.
The NASS team was assured that the aircraft, expected to play critical roles in the fight against insurgency and criminality, would be delivered as planned.
Responding, Senator Michael Nnachi commended EDSI for the quality of work on the NAF A-29 Super Tucano.
He however queried the long duration of time from the date of full payment to expected date of delivery, which he estimated to be between 3 to 4 years.
In response, the Col Ford informed the team that the long duration was due to the challenges of configuring the aircraft to fit NAF’s required specifications.
The visiting team which also included Honourables Babajimi Benson, Shehu Koko, Abubakar Maki and Honourable Abass Adigun were received on arrival at Jacksonville, Florida by the Nigerian Defence Attaché to the USA, Air Commodore Jibrin Usman, the Lead Foreign Liaison Officer on the A-29, Air Vice Marshal Sule Lawal and senior management staff EDSI.
Earlier, the US had blocked Nigeria from acquiring the Super Tucano aircraft from Brazil in November 2016 because of allegations of human rights violations against the Nigerian military.