The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the successful arrival of its C-130 transport aircraft, registration NAF 913, at its intended maintenance destination in Lisbon, Portugal. This follows a period of regional tension after the plane and its crew were held by authorities in Burkina Faso.
The aircraft’s journey was interrupted on the 8th of December, 2025, when Burkinabe officials detained the flight and its 11-man personnel, citing allegations of sovereignty breaches and unauthorized entry into their airspace.
The stalemate ended after roughly 10 days of intensive negotiation. A high-powered team from Nigeria, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, visited Ouagadougou to meet with President Ibrahim Traoré and his cabinet, ultimately securing the release of the crew and equipment.
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF spokesperson, provided a formal update on Friday, the 26th of December, 2026, confirming that the plane had reached the OGMA maintenance facility. The final transit was completed using a revised flight strategy to ensure full compliance with international standards.
“The Nigerian Air Force confirms that its C-130 aircraft (NAF 913) arrived safely at the maintenance facility, OGMA, in Lisbon, Portugal today, 26 December 2025.”
“The ferry flight was successfully completed, transiting Banjul and Casablanca in line with an updated flight plan and established aviation safety procedures.”
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The NAF confirmed that the transition into the maintenance phase was seamless, with all military personnel involved remaining in good health and high spirits.
“The aircraft and crew arrived without incident, marking the final phase of the movement for the scheduled depot maintenance. All personnel are safe and remain in high spirits,” the statement read in part.
The Nigerian Air Force extended its gratitude to the various host nations that provided support during the stopovers in Accra, Banjul, and Casablanca. The Service emphasized its dedication to the “highest standards of safety, professionalism and operational accountability” as the C-130 begins its scheduled technical overhaul.