The Nigerian Ministry of Defence has officially handed over three Agusta Westland AW109 Trekker helicopters to the Nigerian Navy in a ceremony held at Caverton Helicopters Limited (CHL) hangar facilities in Ikeja, Lagos. According to a statement by Director of Naval Information Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, the event marked a significant addition to the Navy’s fleet, aimed at bolstering its operational effectiveness.
The AW109 helicopters are equipped with VIP configurations, featuring full leather interiors and noise attenuation systems for a comfortable and quiet flight experience. Designed with landing skids instead of wheels, these helicopters provide enhanced load capacity. They also come with auxiliary tanks, allowing extended flight endurance of up to 3 hours and 40 minutes, making them suitable for long-range missions. The versatile helicopters can be retrofitted with specialized mission equipment as required.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, along with senior military officials, attended the handover to officially receive the helicopters. The event was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana; Director of Navy Affairs, Dr. Raji Isiaka Ogunshola; President of Caverton Group, Chief Remi Makanjuola; and Caverton’s Managing Director, retired Group Captain Bello.
Vice Admiral Ogalla expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his continuous support for the Nigerian Navy and the Armed Forces at large, recognizing the administration’s commitment to strengthening national security.
