The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed that its C-130 aircraft has arrived safely in Portugal for scheduled depot maintenance.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who said the aircraft “arrived safely at the maintenance facility, OGMA in Lisbon, Portugal on Friday.”
Ejodame explained that “the ferry flight was successfully completed, transiting Banjul and Casablanca in line with an updated flight plan and established aviation safety procedures.”
He added that both the aircraft and crew arrived without incident, marking the final stage of the movement for the planned maintenance programme.
According to the spokesperson, all personnel are safe and in high spirits, while the Nigerian Air Force appreciates the cooperation and support of host authorities throughout the transit.
The aircraft had earlier landed safely in Banjul, The Gambia, on December 23, while en route to Portugal after commencing the ferry flight for its scheduled maintenance.
The journey followed a precautionary landing made by the aircraft on December 8 in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, after experiencing technical issues.
At the time, the crew and aircraft were temporarily detained, with the Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, stating in a joint declaration that the aircraft was carrying 11 military personnel and lacked clearance to fly over Burkinabe airspace.
“An aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, type C-130, was forced to land today in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency situation while it was operating in Burkinabe airspace,” the alliance said in a statement broadcast on state media in the three countries.
However, the Nigerian Air Force maintained that the landing was precautionary and carried out strictly in line with international aviation safety standards, emphasising that there was no emergency and that the aircraft remained serviceable throughout.
The aircraft was eventually released after a diplomatic engagement involving a Nigerian government delegation, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Burkina Faso’s military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou.
What you should know
The C-130 aircraft is a key transport platform used by the Nigerian Air Force for logistics and operational support.
Its movement to Portugal forms part of routine depot maintenance aimed at ensuring safety, reliability, and operational readiness.
While the precautionary landing in Burkina Faso briefly sparked diplomatic and security concerns, Nigerian authorities clarified that aviation protocols were followed and resolved the matter through high-level diplomatic engagement.
