In June 2024, the Nigerian Army, led by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, formally received two Bell UH-1H “Huey” helicopters in Abuja, Nigeria.
The helicopters, with serial numbers NA 010 and NA 011, were showcased as part of efforts to strengthen the army’s operational capability. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Army spokesman, stated that the helicopters were newly acquired to boost Nigerian Army Aviation’s capacity to support ground operations.
However, investigative reports from SaharaReporters and SA Flyer, an African aviation magazine, indicated that these helicopters were not new. Both helicopters had served as firefighting aircraft in South Africa for several years and were reportedly abandoned before being put up for sale on avcom.co.za in May 2024. Following this, the Nigerian Army acquired and refurbished them. Further research from Defensehere.com revealed that these helicopters, NA 010 and NA 011, were initially manufactured in the 1960s, with extensive histories in the U.S. Army before being exported to South Africa, where they were repurposed for civilian use.
Despite these reports, official commentary from the Nigerian Army on the aircraft’s background has yet to be provided.
