The Nigerian Air Force has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of aircraft safety, airworthiness, and operational readiness by dispatching a high-level delegation to Portugal to inspect the ongoing Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) of its C-130H transport aircraft, NAF 913.
Key Highlight:
- The Nigerian Air Force sent a high-level delegation to Portugal to inspect the ongoing Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) of its C-130H transport aircraft, NAF 913.
- The delegation was led by Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Olufemi Samson Ogunsina.
- The inspection took place at OGMA-Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal, where the aircraft is undergoing comprehensive maintenance.
- The visit aimed to assess maintenance progress and ensure timely completion while maintaining global safety and airworthiness standards.
- NAF clarified that despite experiencing transit challenges, the aircraft arrived safely in Portugal and is undergoing scheduled depot-level servicing.
The delegation, led by the Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Olufemi Samson Ogunsina, visited OGMA-Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal, where the aircraft is undergoing comprehensive maintenance. The team also included the Commander of the 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Air Commodore Eric Kpokpogri.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the visit was aimed at assessing the progress of the maintenance programme and engaging OGMA’s management on measures to ensure the timely completion of the project.
During the visit, the delegation carried out a detailed inspection of the ongoing work and held strategic discussions with OGMA officials on improving project timelines while maintaining international standards of safety, reliability and airworthiness.
The Air Force explained that the visit reflects the proactive leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, in ensuring close oversight of critical maintenance programmes and sustaining the operational readiness of NAF aircraft.
The service also addressed public concerns over the aircraft’s status, noting that although the C-130H encountered unforeseen transit challenges on its journey to Portugal, it safely arrived at the maintenance facility and is currently undergoing scheduled depot-level inspection and servicing in line with global best practices.
The Air Force’s maintenance programme highlights its unwavering commitment to safety, technical integrity and the efficient utilisation of its air assets.
Given the strategic importance of the C-130H aircraft to Nigeria’s national and regional airlift operations, both the Nigerian Air Force and OGMA reviewed additional measures to sustain the momentum of the maintenance programme and facilitate the aircraft’s prompt return to operational service.
The discussions also strengthened the longstanding partnership between the Nigerian Air Force and international aerospace stakeholders while exploring broader areas of cooperation, including technical training, logistics support, long-term sustainment of the C-130H fleet and future strategic airlift programmes.
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“The safety of our personnel and the airworthiness of our platforms remain paramount. We will continue to strengthen our maintenance culture and strategic partnerships to ensure that the Nigerian Air Force remains a highly professional, mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive air power in support of national security objectives,” he said.
The latest development comes just days after the Nigerian Air Force successfully completed the Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) on an additional batch of three AW109 Trekker Type B helicopters in Italy, a move expected to further enhance its operational capabilities in tackling Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The Air Force said the ongoing maintenance efforts demonstrate its determination to preserve critical airlift capabilities while reinforcing public confidence in the professionalism, resilience and technical competence of the service.
