LAGOS, Nigeria, May 18 (UPI) -- Nigeria's defense minister has confirmed the purchase of a dozen FT-7NI combat aircraft from China.
The deal was apparently arranged last September and is worth about $251 million. A delivery date for the planes, however, was not given by Minister of Defense Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso when he met with reporters Thursday.
"... The procurement is on with our good friends (the Chinese). We need to have better and more modern aircraft and platform for the Air Force," he said.
The Guardian newspaper quoted the minister as saying construction was already underway at the air force's Makurdi base in Benue State for facilities to handle the multi-role combat aircraft and house training personnel from China.
A total of 12 combat planes were part of the deal, together with three trainer aircraft.
