The minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika on Thursday
announced that the federal government had taken delivery of a calibration aircraft
worth $8.5m.
The minister who disclosed this in several tweets said the equipment would serve in the calibration of navigational aids across Nigerian airports.
Sirika also said the aircraft would enhance the safety of Nigeria’s airspace.
“Just received new calibration aircraft for the country. (The) make is King Air 350i. Cost is $8.5m.
“The agony of contracting it to South Africa at about $500,000 every six months is over. Our airspace is safer. Thanks Mr. President, we started and finished during your regime
“The purpose of this aircraft is to calibrate our equipment and aids in the country for the purpose of flight operations. We used to have one in Nigeria but for the last two decades, we never had one,” he said.
Furthermore, Sirika said the aircraft was bought out of necessity. He explained that when the federal reconstructed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, there was the need recalibrate all the landing aids at the time.
However, he said Nigeria, at that time, did not have the capability as a country.
