Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has said he personally wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over two helicopters bought by the previous administration in the state to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Wike said this during an interview with editors of Sun Newspapers Titles on Saturday in Port Harcourt.

He said the present administration had refused to grant the Rivers State Government the waiver to clear the two armoured helicopters.

He said he was however surprised when the Nigeria Customs claimed they were imported by unknown Nigerians.

He said, “These helicopters were imported by the immediate past administration. When I assumed office,we wrote to the Federal government that it was strictly for security use. What am I going to use armoured helicopters for?

“In any case, where will the Rivers State Government get money at this time to import armoured helicopters. The previous administration imported it because they had the money.

“I went to to the Federal Government to give me a waiver for us to clear the helicopters, but the Federal Government refused.

“I wrote a letter to the President and to assure him that the helicopters are meant for security purposes, it should be handed over to the Nigerian Air Force“.

The governor added: “I am surprised that they have started propaganda and political falsehood on the said armoured helicopters. What kind of country are they turning Nigeria into ? “We stated that we cannot pay the custom duties because the helicopters are not for commercial use. They are to be used to monitor the creeks and track criminals.

“I wrote to the President to give the helicopters to the Airforce. It is shocking that the custom would turn around to claim that they inpounded the helicopters. The Chief of Staff to the President admitted that I have done well when I wrote the letter to the President.”

Azeez