The Nigerian Navy has received three Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters, purchased by the Ministry of Defence, in a handover ceremony held on November 12, 2024, in Lagos.
The Director of Naval Information, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, confirmed the handover in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the event took place in Ikeja with the Chief of the Naval Staff and senior officers present to receive the helicopters.
According to Adams-Aliu, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, expressed gratitude to the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for facilitating the acquisition.
He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his continuous support to the Armed Forces and the Navy.
The new helicopters will enhance the Navy’s operational capacity, supporting activities such as air reconnaissance, search and rescue, air insertion, and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).
Adams-Aliu highlighted the AW 109’s specifications, noting that the helicopters are configured for VIP use, with full leather interiors and noise-reduction systems.
The aircraft is equipped with landing skids for better load capacity and auxiliary tanks, extending its endurance to 3 hours and 40 minutes, enabling long-range transport flights. Additionally, the helicopters can be retrofitted with specialized mission equipment as required.
