Seized helicopters: I wrote Buhari to hand them over to NAF—Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has revealed that he officially wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari asking that the two armoured helicopters seized by the Nigerian Customs Service be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force.

He said he wrote the letter following the high duties charged for the helicopters and the refusal of the Federal Government to grant the Rivers State government the waiver to clear the helicopters.

The helicopters, bought by the Rotimi Amaechi administration, were seized by the Customs as they were allegedly brought into the country without paying the required import duties.

We recall that the immediate past governor, had, in December 2012, announced the purchase of two helicopters for security surveillance,” the governor stated

Wike, in a statement on Saturday by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, alleged that it was unfortunate that security agencies would resort to political propaganda and outright lies, when the facts of the helicopters were public knowledge.

“These helicopters were imported by the immediate past administration. When I assumed office, we wrote to the Federal Government that it was strictly  for security use. What am I going to use armoured helicopters for?

“In any case, where will the Rivers State government get money at this time to import armoured helicopters. The previous administration imported it because they had the money.

“I went to the Federal Government to give me a waiver for us to clear the helicopters, but the Federal Government refused.

“I wrote a letter to the president and  to assure him that the helicopters are meant for security purposes, [that] it should be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force.

“I am surprised that they have started propaganda and political falsehood on the said armoured helicopters. What kind of country are they turning Nigeria into?

“We stated that we cannot pay the custom duties because the helicopters are not for commercial use. They are to be used to monitor the creeks and track criminals.

“I wrote to the president to give the helicopters to the Airforce. It is shocking that the Customs would turn around to claim that they impounded the helicopters.

“The Chief of Staff to the President admitted that I have done well when I wrote the letter to the president,” the governor said.