Darfur - Nigeria is ready to deploy part of its helicopter holdings to the peacekeeping operations of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar, assured Thursday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital. Umar gave the assurance when the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on UNAMID, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari, visited him in his office. Gambari had appealed to the Nigerian Air Force to deploy some of its helicopters to the UNAMID Mission.
Umar assured Gambari of the Nigerian Air Force readiness to assent to his request.
According to him, “we are already making efforts through the Honourable Minister of Defence to deploy some helicopters and other possible air assets to Darfur.”
Umar informed the Special Representative that the Nigerian Air Force would remain steadfast in its quest for excellence and in supporting the fast mobility of Nigeria's military in all mission areas.
Gambari said during the visit that as a Nigerian and head of the largest United Nations Peace Support Operations in the world, he required the presence of Nigerian Air Force helicopters to provide the full complement of the Darfur mandate.
According to him, the “Nigerian Air Force presence will be most beneficial in the area of medical evacuation and fast and versatile mobility of United Nations peacekeepers and officials in Darfur. The mission needs over 30 helicopters.”
Gambari said he was in Nigeria to solicit for more Nigerian government support as the largest contributing nation to the Darfur Mission.
UNAMID currently has over 31,000 troops from different countries.
Gambari added that he had “held very useful discussions with the Minister of Defence on the need for Nigeria to continue to ensure that its peacekeepers were properly selected, trained and well equipped before deployment to mission areas.”
In addition, he said, “I have offered to send a small team of my officers to assist the Armed Forces of Nigeria on how to continue to meet the United Nations contingent own equipment standards.”
Gambari, while commending the Nigerian Air Force for its giant strides and professionalism, reiterated his commitment to Nigeria’s quest for permanent membership of the United Nations.
He further added, “I have been in the UN for 21 years, having served five different Heads of States. My priority now is working to ensure that Nigeria becomes a permanent member of the United Nations.”
Pana 05/08/2011
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