Abuja — President Olusegun Obasanjo on 10 February commissioned a new turbo rotor helicopter acquired by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for search and rescue operations.

Also present at the event were:

- Vice President Atiku Abubakar

- Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep, Chief of Air Staff

- Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senate President.

The multipurpose aircraft, which was built by Kazan Helicopter Limited, is the first of two crafts approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

At the commissioning ceremony, Obasanjo said the acquisition of the helicopter is in line with prevailing global trends for comprehensive risk-based emergency management.

Abubakar described the helicopter as a versatile rescue apparatus that can "provide on-board medical attention" and search out disaster victims that are not easily accessible by land or water vehicles.

Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Salisu Shuaib Makarfi also explained that the craft can serve as troop carrier, cargo transport and fire-fighting device.

The helicopter will be manned by the flying wing of NEMA, which is headed by a pilot drawn from the Nigeria Air Force.

In a related development, NEMA in January 2004 commissioned a satellite monitoring equipment, COSPAS-SARSAT, which automatically receives signals from distressed vessels and aircrafts. The signals are subsequently transmitted to relevant response units for action.