The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully airlifted the first batch of Nigerian troops deploying under the NIGCOY 5 ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB), reaffirming its critical role in providing strategic air mobility for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and supporting the country’s commitment to regional peace and security.
The contingent, comprising 86 personnel—12 officers and 74 soldiers—departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, aboard a NAF C-130 aircraft bound for Guinea-Bissau. The remaining members of the contingent are expected to be deployed 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 serving as ambassadors of the Nigerian Army, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The deployment highlights the strong collaboration among the Services of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s strategic airlift capability in supporting both national and multinational operations.
It also reflects Nigeria’s longstanding leadership in ECOWAS peace support missions and its continued commitment to promoting regional stability, strengthening international cooperation, and projecting the professionalism and credibility of the nation’s armed forces on the global stage.
