December 8, 2014 – Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today ordered release of the Antonov Cargo Aircraft to the French Government.
The aircraft which was Chad-bound was detained by the Nigerian Air Force(NAF) at the Aminu Kano International Airport on Saturday when it was found with some military hardware.
The aircraft has two military helicopters which the French Government said was part of its military intervention in the fight against terrorism in Africa
But at a press conference in Abuja, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu who authorized the released said that though the French government had a block clearance with the Nigerian government, it did not have the license to operate that category of flight in the country.
According to him, the block clearance that the French government has for the whole year has some exception and that it out to have avoided about seven elements.
After thorough investigation the aircraft was not found wanting.
“The French Government has block clearance with us throughout the year, but the block clearance has some exceptions, we have about 7 elements that ought to be avoided if you are to operate that kind of clearance”, he said adding that diversion is however allowed.
“ We have done what we have to do, there is nothing controversial. As soon as we finish the briefing, I am going to give a call to Kano to release the aircraft”, he said.
Earlier in a statement, the French Government said the helicopters in the plane, light Gazelle, were headed for Ndjamena, Chad and were part of France’s efforts to support regional cooperation against terrorism as agreed by the Heads of State of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun at the security summit held in Paris in May 2014.
The Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday night, said the plane which was chartered from a Russian company, 224 Flight Unit, was diverted to Kano airport as air traffic conditions in N’Djamena were too dense for landing.
The Russian crew, he said, decided to fly to Kano, being the closest airport, to refuel and then proceed to N’Djamena. He added that the plane was given diplomatic clearance by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The freight consisted of two Gazelle helicopters (a four-seater light liaison helicopter) with spare parts and maintenance items. Two French military non-commissioned officers escorted the equipment as passengers,” he said.
“There was absolutely no weapon and ammunition on board the aircraft, the statement read, adding that “due to the nationality of the aircraft and nature of the cargo, local airport Nigerian authorities decided to check the flight plan, the clearance and cargo before authorising the plane to leave”.
The ambassador further explained that after official information had been supplied by the French Embassy, to the satisfaction of Nigerian authorities, the authorities announced that the plane would be authorised to continue its flight to N’Djamena.
“The use of chartered flights of various nationalities for military cargo transport is a standard international practice; it is used by many nations and is coherent with commercial competition to reduce cost of such transport operations. The use of Russian companies to transport French military equipment is common practice,” Champagne de Labriolle said.
