Abuja, Dec. 18 (NAN) – The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on Wednesday winged 22 qualified officers and soldiers as pilots and certified maintenance engineers to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational capabilities.
The ceremony marked the closing of the 2024 COAS Annual Conference held in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officers and soldiers were part of a 46-member team, comprising aircraft pilots, mission operators, engineers, and technicians, trained by the Nigerian Army in Turkey.
Speaking at the event, Oluyede emphasized that the winging of the personnel was a significant step toward enhancing the professionalism and combat readiness of the Nigerian Army under his command philosophy.
“We just winged 22 qualified officers and soldiers as pilots and certified maintenance engineers,” he said.
“Their winging is a morale booster and confirms their certification to fly and maintain the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones in our inventory. The Nigerian Army plans to procure additional unmanned aerial systems in the coming year to enhance its operations across all theatres.”
Oluyede also noted the ongoing 2025 budget presentation to the National Assembly and expressed optimism about a smooth budget defense and timely release of funds to support the army’s activities in the new year.
Brig.-Gen. UG Ogeleka, Commander of the Nigerian Army Space Command, provided additional details on the training program. He disclosed that in 2022, the army sent 35 officers and 11 soldiers from the Nigerian Route 3 Piloted Aircraft System Regiments to Turkey for training on the operation and maintenance of the Bayraktar TB2 drones.
“The trained crew includes 14 locally piloted aircraft pilots, seven mission operators, and 23 engineers and technicians,” Ogeleka said.
He added that the team had been actively engaged in operations since their deployment under Project Guideline in 2022, conducting intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision strikes in Kaduna and Niger states.
“From October 2022 to date, the team has conducted 254 sorties, accumulating a total flight time of 1,664 hours,” Ogeleka revealed.
The Nigerian Army acquired 43 Bayraktar TB2 drones to bolster operations, particularly in the North West Theatre, with further plans to expand its unmanned aerial systems capabilities.
 – The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on Wednesday winged 22 qualified officers and soldiers as pilots and certified maintenance engineers to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s operational capabilities.){kind=link}