The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that one of its C-130 transport aircraft has successfully arrived in Portugal for routine depot maintenance.
In a statement released on Friday, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the aircraft landed safely at the OGMA maintenance facility in Lisbon after completing its ferry flight without any incident.
According to him, the aircraft transited through Banjul in The Gambia and Casablanca, Morocco, in line with an updated flight plan and standard aviation safety procedures. He noted that the successful arrival marks the final stage of the aircraft’s movement for its scheduled maintenance.
Ejodame added that both the crew and aircraft remained safe throughout the journey, while expressing appreciation to authorities in the host countries for their cooperation during the transit.
The aircraft had earlier landed in Banjul on December 23 while en route to Portugal, following its release from Burkina Faso. It had made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8 after experiencing technical concerns during flight.
Following the landing, the aircraft and its crew were temporarily held by Burkinabe authorities, amid claims by the Alliance of Sahel States that the aircraft lacked clearance to operate within Burkina Faso’s airspace. The alliance stated that the aircraft was carrying 11 military personnel at the time.
However, the Nigerian Air Force maintained that the landing was purely precautionary and conducted in accordance with international aviation safety standards, stressing that there was no emergency situation and that the aircraft remained serviceable.
The aircraft was subsequently released after diplomatic engagements between a Nigerian government delegation, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou.
