Scandal: Belarus sells helicopters which it does not produce to Nigeria

Allocation of $ 1 billion for the purchase of helicopters in Belarus caused the scandal in the Parliament of Nigeria.

It is reported by the local edition of "Leadership" (translation – charter97.org).

The decision to approve the purchase has been taken after a stormy debate.

Nigerian parliamentarians were troubled by the fact that the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan has requested money for the purchase of 12 helicopters from a country that is not a helicopter manufacturing company.

Nigeria's president had on July 15, written to the Senate, requesting its approval to take a loan of $1billion to enable the federal government tackle security challenges in the country.

The proposed helicopters, Mil Mi-24D (export designation Mil Mi-35). According to the request, "Belarus has accepted to give helicopters on instalmental payment over a seven year period; other weapons and equipment will be procured under the same conditions in other European countries“.

Political affairs officer of the Belarus Embassy in Abuja, Mr. Sergei Makarevich said though Belarus is a top manufacturer of military equipment, helicopters were not part of it, but noted that Belarusian delegation headed by Vladimir Makey visited Nigeria on September 8-9, 2014. Military-technical cooperation and other issues have been discussed.

Makey was the one who passed to the president of Nigeria the personal invitation to visit Belarus from Lukashenko.

Early April 2014 the possibility of the production of helicopters in Belarus was claimed by Lukashenko during the visit of "558 Aircraft Plant” in Baranavichy.

He said about the suitable platform for helicopters production in Orsha. “How difficult is to produce the helicopter in Orsha today? Not at all, if there is a “Motor Sich” (Ukrainian company, which owns a stake of Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant) with the engine. Then one has yet to buy a couple of other sophisticated instruments, which could be even produced abroad. But the rest is available here — take it and make it”, he said.

The situation with the sale of "Belarusian" helicopters Nigeria looks even more confusing considering the fact that in August 2014 the contract for the supply of Mi-171Ш and Mi-35 in Nigeria has been mentioned by Deputy General Director of "Rosoboronexport" Sergei Goreslavsky.