The Nigerian Army says officials and soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the North East can now enjoy a ‘welfare flight’ whenever they are off duty and wish to travel to see their families.
Army spokesperson, Brig-General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
He said the gesture is extended to personnel of other security agencies, as well as civilian staff of the Armed Forces of Nigeria from Maiduguri to other parts of the country.
The army spokesperson said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Faruk Yahaya launched the welfare flight at the air force base in Maiduguri, Borno state, on Monday.
Nwachukwu said the development is part of the chief’s efforts to cater for the welfare of troops who are proceeding on pass to and fro the theatre of operations to other parts of the country.
He said the aircraft, Nigerian Air Force Charlie-130, was provided by the Chief the Air Staff, Air Marshall Isiaka Amao.
The army spokesperson said the flight will be twice a month to meet the two weeks duration of leave passes in the theatre of operation, adding that personnel leaving on pass will be granted two weeks.