The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has airlifted the first batch of Nigerian troops deploying under the NIGCOY 5 ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB).
Nigeria is widely recognised as the leading force in peacekeeping, and the instant deployment, military sources say, reinforces the country’s commitment to regional peace, security and stability. The deployment also highlights the NAF’s strategic airlift capability in support of national and multinational operations.
The first contingent, comprising 86 personnel made up of 12 officers and 74 soldiers, departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, aboard a NAF C-130 aircraft en route to Guinea-Bissau. The NAF said the remaining members of the contingent would be transported in a subsequent airlift.
Before departure, the troops were formally seen off at the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Force Operations Base in Abuja, where they were urged to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and integrity while representing the Nigerian Army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Federal Republic of Nigeria throughout the mission.
According to the NAF, the deployment demonstrates the strong synergy among the services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. It underscores the Air Force’s enduring role in providing strategic air mobility for military operations. It added that the operation reflects the service’s capacity to support both domestic and international assignments.
The NAF further stated that the deployment reaffirms Nigeria’s longstanding leadership in ECOWAS peace support operations and its unwavering commitment to promoting regional stability, strengthening international cooperation and projecting the professionalism and positive image of the country on the global stage.
