Nigerian Airforce is to acquire 8 unmanned Aerial Vehicles and 3 JF17 Tinder fighter from China and Pakistan.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadeeq Baba Abubakar announced this while defending the force 2021 budget estimate before the House of Representatives Committee on Air force in Abuja.
Air Marshall Baba Abubakar, said the Service was also expecting delivery of the controversial Super Tukano aircrafts before the end of the second quarter of 2021.
The Air Chief staff told the lawmakers that based on the directive of Mr President, the Nigerian Airforce has joined the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for the payment of salaries of its personnel.
He however, complained that the N8.8 billion allocated to the service for its overhead cost which remained constant since 2017 was grossly inadequate to run the Force effectively in view of the increased responsibilities and platform being created day in day out.
The Airforce Boss said the sum of N142.045 billion is proposed for the Air Force in 2021 is made up of about N101 billion for personnel, while N8.8 billion and N31.4 billion are proposed for overhead and capital estimates respectively.
Air Marshal Sadiq further confirmed that the 2021 budget proposal is tailored towards acquiring more platforms and maintainance of the existing ones as well as intensify its procurement of spare parts, arms and ammunition.
SALIHU TSIBIRI
