There is a seeming cold war between the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Immigration Service over possession of three surveillance aircraft, believed to be specifically designed for an aerial monitoring of the country’s borders. The squabble, it was gathered, may further compound the nation’s security woes as this could hinder proper surveillance operations at the borders.
Blueprint gathered that the aircraft, Donier 228, solely designed by German company in 1987 for Immigration service to monitor porous borders, are now subject of controversy between the two agencies with the NAF, allegedly claiming to have a presidential order to take over the three aircraft.
Although, the source revealed that the aircraft were still at the air-border patrol at Dana old Airport in Kawo, Kaduna, but both the NAF and NIS personnel had disagreement last week when the former attempted to take them away.
The NIS personnel, however, resisted, insisting that there must be an order from their headquarters before the aircraft could be released to the NAF. Speaking separately to our reporter, a security source said the development may hinder operations of the NIS, “especially now that the nation is battling issues of illegal migration, importation of illegal arms, importation of fake goods and operation of the foreign herdsmen. “It is in the best interest of the nation that those aircraft were not meant for military operation but domiciled with Immigration Service for which they were originally approved.
” On reason for the NAF’s takeover of the equipment, a Presidency source, who is very well familiar with the issue, but opted for anonymity said, “there is no reason, it is just lobby. Those aircraft are the best ones Nigeria ever had. “They (NAF) have been eyeing those aircraft more than 10 years now, but successive administrations had always turned down such request.
It is unfortunate that the machines will have to be removed from NIS. It is going to affect their operations. “Yes, one is not saying the Air Force does not need equipment, but it is better sourcing theirs for them separately than stripping NIS of the aircraft, which in turn will impede their operations.
I think it was a wrong decision.” The aircraft are equipped with Stabilised Long-Range Operation System (SLOS), Stabilised Thermal Operation System (STOS) and 20 RC Area Camera which captures images in absolute darkness, cordoned aerial surveillance and capable of identifying illegal routes.
According to the source, “the unit has a Main Operation Base (MOB) and Four Operation Base (FOB) fully equipped to carry out strategic communication for tactical control of all Air- border control on the ground.
“The FOB and MOB are prerequisites for effective operation as information during the flight mission are transmitted through network which are expected to be passed to appropriate authority for information and action.” Findings revealed that the National Council of Ministers had at a meeting on Thursday, 16th of July, 1987, where a memo based on adequate surveillance on the borders, was articulated on the basis of which approval and procurement for Immigration and Custom, was given an executive order which has not been reviewed up till date.
Other functions as given to Immigration by the council include; intelligence gathering, control of the nation’s porous borders against illegal immigration and smuggling activities, search and rescue operation and other ad-hoc security services.
While several calls (about six in all), put across yesterday to the NAF spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, were not answered, he did not also reply another text message sent to him by our correspondent around 4.00pm.
However, when contacted, NIS spokesman, Sunday James, told our reporter on telephone that he was not aware, but promised to find out and get back to our correspondent. But he was not forthcoming as at the time of fi ling this report.
