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President Muhammadu Buhari has donated two aircraft from the presidential fleet to the Nigerian air force, six days after two jets from the same fleet were put up for sale.
The two helicopters, which are part of the 10 aircraft in the presidential air fleet, were acquired on October 20, 2014 and May 21, 2015.
The aircraft are Agusta Westland AW101 helicopters which possess ballistics defence capabilities, and are equipped against certain forms of missile attacks.
Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff, at the handover ceremony on Monday said that one of the helicopters will be configured and deployed as an air ambulance, while the second will be deployed as a troop carrier.
“The two helicopters will be immediately reconfigured and deployed to the northeast for the use of Nigerian troops”, he said, adding: “The air ambulance will carry a trauma unit, to ensure that injured troops get immediate medical assistance during airlift. These helicopters are some of the most sophisticated, most comfortable and most equipped in the world”.
National security adviser, Babagana Monguno,signed the transfer documents on behalf of Pesident Buhari.