The Nigerian Ministry of Defence has officially handed over three Agusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters to the Nigerian Navy in a move designed to enhance the nation’s maritime defense capabilities.
The handover ceremony, held at Caverton Helicopters Limited hangar in Ikeja, Lagos, was attended by top officials, including Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and key figures from the Ministry of Defence.
These advanced AW 109 helicopters are fitted with a VIP configuration, boasting full leather interiors and noise attenuation technology for optimal performance. With skid landing gear, each helicopter benefits from enhanced loading capacity and durability. Additionally, auxiliary fuel tanks extend their flight endurance up to 3 hours and 40 minutes, making them ideal for long-range missions.
These helicopters also have the flexibility to be retrofitted for various naval missions, such as air reconnaissance, search and rescue, air insertion, and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC).
Vice Admiral Ogalla expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support of the Armed Forces and extended thanks to the Ministers of Defence for facilitating the acquisition, which is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime operations.
