President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed that four attack helicopters ordered from the United States will soon arrive in Nigeria, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to tackle the country’s worsening security challenges.
The President made the revelation on Friday, December 26, while receiving a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), led by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, at his Lagos residence.
According to Tinubu, although the helicopters have already been ordered from the United States, the delivery process is taking time. He added that the government has also reached out to Turkey for additional military support to strengthen Nigeria’s security capacity.
“Our orders for four attack helicopters from the United States of America will take some time to arrive. We have approached Turkey for assistance,” the President said.
Tinubu acknowledged that delays in acquiring military hardware have affected public perception of his administration’s commitment to addressing insecurity. He explained that military equipment is expensive, difficult to replace, and not readily available off the shelf.
The President also reiterated that community and state policing would soon become a reality, once the National Assembly completes the necessary legislative processes.
“Community and State Police will be a reality once the National Assembly completes the required legislative inputs,” he stated.
Despite ongoing attacks by bandits and insurgents, Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration remains resolute in restoring peace and prosperity across the country, noting that security forces are contending with guerrilla-style tactics employed by criminal groups.
His comments come amid heightened security discussions following an announcement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who revealed via Truth Social on Thursday, December 25, that the United States had carried out airstrikes against terrorist targets in North-West Nigeria.
Trump claimed the operation, ordered by him in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, targeted militants responsible for the killing of “innocent Christians,” adding that several terrorists were killed during the strikes.
The Nigerian government subsequently confirmed the airstrikes, stating that they were conducted in collaboration with the United States.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria remains actively engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
“Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said.
He added that the collaboration had resulted in precision airstrikes on terrorist targets in parts of North-West Nigeria, underscoring the government’s commitment to dismantling terror networks and restoring security nationwide.
