Bell helicopters

On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the Nigerian Army (NA) took a significant step in enhancing its operational capabilities with the delivery of the first batch of new aircraft. The aircraft, BELL UH-1H (HUEY) helicopters, were formally received by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja at a brief ceremony held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The BELL UH-1H Helicopters are equipped with advanced sensors and enablers to conduct a range of missions, including reconnaissance, surveillance, rescue, logistics, transportation, and medical evacuation.

Receiving the aircraft, General Lagbaja, noted that the renewed drive to establish the Nigerian Army Aviation wing was conceived by the then-former COAS, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah (rtd), in 2014, with a three-phase ten-year implementation plan. The COAS extolled former Chiefs of Army Staff, maintaining, that their tenacity and drive, along with the collective efforts of personnel and Nigerian Government’s political will, have been instrumental in bringing to the vision of Nigerian Army Aviation to fruition.

Gen Lagbaja expressed appreciation to the successive administrations for their support in training Nigerian Army Pilots and Ground Crews as well as putting in place other requisite structures. The COAS profoundly expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to fund the acquisition of NA platforms and providing all support to actualize the dream.

The Army Chief also appreciated the forerunners, particularly the sister services and the Nigerian Police Force Aviation wing, for their support and encouragement. He noted that with the acquisition of the new platforms, the Nigerian Army is spurred to serve the nation better and provide Nigerians, an enabling environment for economic prosperity.

40 year old vision

In his remarks, the Coordinator, Nigerian Army Aviation, Brigadier General Musa Alkali, stated that the arrival of the NA Aviation vanguard platforms is a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance the operational capabilities of the Nigerian Army Aviation, in line with the COAS’s command philosophy. Brig Gen Alkali stressed that the acquisition of the platforms was a clear demonstration of the Nigerian Army’s al resolve to build an aviation wing.

He noted that the programme which started 40 years ago was meant to continuously improve and adapt in the face of an evolving security landscape. According to him, this will boost the Nigerian Army’s reconnaissance, surveillance, and air mobility capabilities. Gen Alkali acknowledged the tireless efforts of those involved in the execution of the Nigerian Army Aviation plan, as well as the international partners.

Earlier, a Consultant for the Nigerian Army Aviation, Major General Emeka Onwuamaegbu (rtd) who is also a trained Helicopter Pilot, lauded the Nigerian Army for sustaining the vision over the years that saw to the actualization of the Nigerian Army aviation. Director of Army Public Relations, Maj General, Onyema Nwachukwu, said the berthing of the aircraft marks a significant milestone in the development of the Nigerian Army Aviation’s capacity to provide air support for ground operations.

Laying foundation

Inside Abuja gathered that the idea of creating an Aviation Wing in the Nigerian Army was conceived in 1985 during President Ibrahim Babangida’s regime. As part of planting the seed for the programme, some officers like Col Stephen Samaila Yombe, Maj Gen Emeka Onwuamaegbu, Col Edor Obi and others were among the first batch of officers to be trained as Army Aviation Pilots.

Similarly, a Nigerian Army Aviation Establishment Committee was set up to conduct a study on the viability of the programme and identify sources for the procurement of equipment, particularly aircraft. The Committee was headed by the then Director of Training and Operations, Maj Gen. M. Yusuf while the then General Officer 1, Policy, Plans and Strategy at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army, Col Tony Nyiam was made the Secretary. The committee visited military equipment manufacturing firms in various countries.

It visited Bells in the United States of America; Westland in the United Kingdom; Aero Spatile, a French aviation company and the manufacturers of Augusta Helicopters in Italy. The airborne gunships platforms manufactured by Bells was found to be the best and the committee recommended this to the military high command. However, Inside Abuja gathered that while the vision was still at its budding stage, the programme got stalled due to allegations of corruption and greed of some of those who had the responsibility to see the dream come true.

Although it was Babangida’s vision, the early implementation came under the watch of General Sani Abacha, the then Chief of Army Staff and later Chief of Defence Staff. Sources familiar with the development told Inside Abuja that a move by some top brass military officers to profit from the programme did not help matters. “The deal could not go ahead because some persons asked for nothing less than 40 per cent inflation of the contract so as to enrich the agent used for the negotiation.

Bells refused to pay any thing more than what the US government was allowed to pay out through agents which was between five and ten percent of the contract sum. So Nigeria was then left with the option of procuring the same aircraft from a third party country,” our source said. However, with the return to the same company after about four decades, it is not clear if the current aircraft came through a third party country or directly from the United States.

Inter- agency rivalry

Some Nigerians have expressed misgivings about the establishment of the Nigerian Army Aviation wing when there is a Nigeria Air Force that prides itself as the willing, able and reliable (WAR) wings of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The question therefore is: Why do we need Army Aviation? Inside Abuja findings revealed that the Army Aviation Corps does not duplicate the role of the Nigeria Air Force.

In modern military operations, it was learnt, apart from having ground troops and platforms, the Army also needs airborne platforms with guns as part of its operations. It would seem that the Air Force are only trained to fly at a higher altitudes from where they execute aerial bombardment of enemy locations. On the other hand, the Army can fly in helicopters close to the battle ground with guns firing at enemies from a close range. In other words, there is no duplication or rivalry.

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