Headline

Airforce Jet Not Shot Down by Insurgents, Cause of Crash to be Known Soon – Amao

Published

5 years ago

April 5, 2021

Eric

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, has stated that the events of the past few days involving the crash of an Alpha-Jet aircraft should inspire and spur Nigerian Air Force pilots, technicians and ground troops to remain resolute in the fight against insurgency in the North- East and other parts of the country.

The CAS stated that the videos being circulated on social media claiming that the aircraft was shot down by insurgents were false, noting that “from critical analysis of all available intelligence, it was obvious that the air accident was caused by other factors soon to be unravelled.”

The NAF Alpha jet went missing since Wednesday with two airmen, Flt Lts. John Abolarinwa and Ebiakpo Chapele, on board.

Amao stated that efforts were still ongoing in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to find the crashed aircraft as well as the two pilots so as to bring the matter to closure.

He stated this while on another visit to the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maiduguri, and after receiving a briefing from the Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Nnamdi Ananaba, on the efforts with the NA to locate the site of the Alpha jet crash.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the NAF spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, titled, ‘ CAS in Maiduguri, charges personnel to remain resolute. ‘

Amao said, “We must continue to work assiduously in synergy with sister services and other security agencies to ensure that peace and security of lives and property are achieved,” the statement quoted him as telling the NAF personnel.

He assured the troops of his support as they intensified efforts towards ensuring that the fight against insurgency comes to an end in no distant time.

The air marshal celebrated the Easter and interacted with the troops while also commending them for their efforts towards projecting air power as well as providing close air support to ground troops in the fight against insurgency.

The Punch

Headline

Defence Gulps Lion Share As Tinubu Presents N58.47trn 2026 Budget to NASS

Published

12 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has presented a budget of N58.47 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year to a joint session of the National Assembly, with capital recurrent (non‑debt) expenditure standing at N15.25 trillion.

Tinubu presented the budget on Friday, pegging the capital expenditure at N26.08 trillion and putting the crude oil benchmark at US$64.85 per barrel.

He said the expected total revenue is N34.33 trillion, projected total expenditure: N58.18 trillion, including N15.52 trillion for debt servicing. The budget is N23.85 trillion, representing 4.28% of GDP.

The budget was anchored on a crude oil production of 1.84 million barrels per day, and an exchange rate of N1,400 to the US Dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.

In terms of sectoral allocation, defence and security took the lion’s share with N 5.41 trillion, followed by infrastructure at N3.56 trillion.

Headline

Mike Adenuga, Emmanuel Macron Hold High-Powered Meeting in Paris

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2025

Eric

Accomplished billionaire businessman and Commander of the French Légion d’Honneur, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., GCON, CdrLH, has held a private meeting with the French President, Emmanuel Macron.

The two powerful citizens of the world held the meeting on Wednesday at the historic Élysée Palace in Paris.

The high-level engagement underscores the longstanding relationship between Dr. Adenuga and the French Republic, as well as his continued relevance in global business and diplomatic circles.

A respected industrialist and philanthropist, Adenuga has been widely acknowledged for his contributions to economic development, telecommunications, energy, and humanitarian causes across Africa and beyond.

The meeting adds to Dr. Adenuga’s growing profile as a bridge between African enterprise and international leadership.

Headline

Free at Last: Burkina Faso Releases 11 Nigerian Soldiers, Aircraft

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2025

Eric

Burkina Faso has released Nigerian soldiers who were detained after their aircraft made a forced landing in the Sahelian country earlier this month, Nigerian officials said.

The release followed a diplomatic intervention by President Bola Tinubu, who dispatched a high-level delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to meet Burkina Faso’s Military Leader, Ibrahim Traoré, on Wednesday.

In a statement, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar’s spokesperson, said both sides resolved the matter amicably and secured the release of the Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew.

The soldiers had been held for nearly two weeks after the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) described the aircraft’s landing as an “unfriendly act” carried out in defiance of international law.

The Nigerian Air Force, however, said the crew encountered a technical issue that required a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, the nearest available airfield. It said the landing complied with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.