Maureen Ihua -Maduenyi

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command of the Nigerian Customs Service on Friday handed over two seized civil model Bell helicopters imported into the country by unknown persons to the Nigerian Air Force.

The NCS said the helicopters were handed over to NAF for failure by the yet -to - be-identified importers to produce end user certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser.

The NCS said this was in contravention of Section 36 ( 2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act and that the seizure was effected on November 7, 2016 in line with section 46 of CEMA.

Customs Area Controller, Frank Allanah, told journalists that the value of the two helicopters and other accessories was over N 9. 7bn.

He said , “ The helicopters were flown in as a consignment with Airway Bill Number 17232444403 into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“ The choppers were detained at the Skyways Aviation Handling Company Limited shed pending fulfillment of all legal requirements for the importation. ”

He said the chopper would be useful to the Nigerian Air Force in the fight against insurgency as the chopper were specially designed for such operations .

Speaking during the hand over the chopper , the Chief of Air Staff , Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar , said the choppers and accessories would be taken to the NAF hangar at the Lagos Airport for full examination in collaboration with Customs officials.

He described the handover as a milestone as the configuration of the aircraft was fitted for military combat operations .

He said the handover had presidential approval adding that all legal issues had also been considered.

lalasticlala

lucas101:
But wait oooo how dem go be unknown persons

Corruption is the bane of our problem in Nigeria, as long as we treat corruption and similar vices with kid gloves, we shall continue to go in cycle, how can 2 choppers be imported into the country and yet they cant find nor arrest those behind the importation?You mean all the security apparatus in the airport where all asleep when the criminals flew / import the chopper into Nigeria?..This is why l advocate for Nigeria to be auctioned on e-bay and sold off to the g-7 industrialized nations, Nigeria is better off to be sold off and shared among-st the richest nations in the world, alternatively, Britain should come back and re-colonize Nigeria, Nothing seems to be working in Nigeria, we are not ready for true governance, justice, equity and accountability, nonsense

Modified>>>>>>> for all those quoting me wrongly without reading in between the lines of my post, is it not better for you that the country is sold, shared or -recolonized by either the G-7 industrialized nation or Britain our former colony and you enjoy quality life, basic necessities of life than remain in a dead country where nothing works except looting, corruption, stealing, which we read on a daily basis....... 9.7 Billion Naira divide by 500 = 2, 000, 000 US dollars, and 2million Dollars is enough to address several issues in any part of Nigeria if it is judiciously put into use and some criminals fritter it away by importing choppers and yet we are reading now that they are unknown persons, nonsense

ghettowriter:
Good one. I guessed there were imported for some illigal activities.

slawali:
Good one from govt.g

God bless pmb

God bless nigeria and nigerian

Illegal importation.