NIGERIA will take delivery of the final batch of the 12 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets next week, Minister of Defense Bashir Magashi has revealed.
Addressing state house correspondents after a 3-hour security meeting of security chiefs with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Magashi said the meeting deliberated on how to find lasting solutions to insecurity across the country, particularly in Zamfara State, where bandits have established a stronghold.
In July, Nigeria received the first batch of the jets from the United States, which, according to Magashi, were still being test-run.
The purchase of the Super Tucano had caused drama between the president and the 8th National Assembly.
In April 2018, in a letter to the National Assembly, Buhari disclosed that $496 million was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account to purchase military aircraft.
However, the money was paid to the United States for the 12 Super Tucano aircraft without the approval of lawmakers as required by the constitution.
After the payment, Buhari then sought the approval of the National Assembly to include the money in the 2018 Appropriation Bill, which was at the time under consideration by the lawmakers.
The budgetary request contributed to the delay in the passage of the 2018 budget by the then Bukola Saraki-led parliament.
