The Nigerian government has approved the acquisition of new aircraft for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), a senior official said on Tuesday.

Nigeria's Defense Minister Aguiyi Ironsi, said the aircraft would improve the country's air defense capability and enhance the NAF's capability to police the nation's waters up to the limits of Nigeria's maritime boundaries.

"This should help deter sundry criminal activities ranging from piracy, poaching, illegal bunkering, oil theft and pollution," he said.

He said that the above criminal activities were currently going on in the nation's maritime environment.

Funds had been released to complete the ongoing rehabilitation of the C-130 Hercules, G-222 and the Super Puma Helicopter fleets, he added.

Source: Xinhua