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Nigeria builds regional helicopter maintenance hanger

Xinhua, January 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Nigerian government on Monday said it has completed a massive maintenance hanger for the country's military helicopters and others within the West African countries.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique, disclosed this in Abuja, the nation's capital, during a meeting with governor of central north state of Niger, Abubakar Sani Bello.

Sadique said the hanger, which is located in Minna, the capital of Niger State, is aimed to become a regional hub for helicopter maintenance in partnership with the state government and other critical stakeholders.

He said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is doing its possible best to ensure that security is maintained and sustained in the state through the presence of personnel, facilities and formations.

"The NAF is looking at the possibility of enhancing our operations in Minna. We have a hanger that we have constructed already, which we hope that it will turn out to be a big maintenance center for helicopters not only for the NAF, but other air forces in West African that operate the same helicopters," he added.

"We have completed the hanger. The aim is to make that hanger a maintenance workshop for the helicopters. We are working toward actualizing that not only with other partners but also with the Niger state government as well the Americans," said the NAF chief.

On his part, Bello said his administration is looking to partner with the air force in the area of capacity building and security particularly around the Minna Air Port.

He also expressed hope that the establishment of the helicopter hanger maintenance center will not only strengthen the security of the state, but will as well boost its economy. Endit