The Nigerian Air Force said yesterday that the Chinese Company with whom the Federal Government signed a $215 million contract for the supply of nine combat aircraft and three trainer aircraft, was still on schedule to supply the aircraft, noting that insinuations that the Chinese firm had reneged on the contract, were unfounded.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin who made the disclosure in Abuja yesterday, noted that rather than castigate the Chinese firm and accuse them of breaching the contract, they (firm), should be commended for willing to construct and supply the aircraft on schedule even though, only less than a quarter of the amount has been paid.

His words: "Claims that he, CAS raised alarm over a N30 billion contract for the supply of Jets to the NAF or that the contract was valued at $500 million and that the money has been fully paid for without the air planes being supplied, were untrue."

The truth is that, "No contract in the NAF either on-going or proposed is even up to half the amount as claimed," and "the contract in question is on-going and we have not even paid up to a quarter of the contract sum but the Chinese company has agreed to supply the aircraft."

"Therefore, the Chinese company has shown good faith and commitment to the execution of the contract even before the full payment. There was no time during the budget defence with members of the House of Representatives, that the CAS castigated the Chinese company".

Disclosing that the aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in April 2009 to the NAF, Air Marshal Petirin said, "For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state that the NAF authorities recognize and appreciate the competing demands for funds by other sectors of the economy.

Inspite of this, the federal government is alive to its responsibilities and committed to rebuilding the NAF to a virile and professional Air force capable of meeting its constitutional duties".