Air Commodore Quattrociocchi heads the delegation. Among operational activities, Nigeria participates, under United Nations mandate, in all “Peacekeeping”on African soil and maintains a contingent in Darfur where it is expected to assume greater responsibilities in the future. In this context, the UN has urged the Nation to equip itself with transport assets that will allow for the necessary support to the increased military effort. The meeting, planned and approved by the Staff Talks Plan 2013, aimed, pending the signing of a general Defence agreement, to identify areas of interest towards which to direct future cooperation activities. The talks, which took place in a particularly cordial atmosphere, were conducted in the presence of Deputy Director, Policy and Plans, Air Commodore AA IYA, and his staff, among whom Director of Transformation, head of NAF's renewal policy.
During the meetings, in addition to an overview of the structure, organisation and tasks of the two Air Forces, numerous aspects were discussed, including the training and education process for flying personnel, air traffic control personnel, and technical personnel. Particular interest was shown by the NAF representatives towards the national Air Defence organisation and the maintenance capabilities for transport aircraft. The discussions were preceded by a meeting with the Italian Ambassador in Abuja, Dr Roberto Colaminè, who provided a broad political and economic perspective on Nigeria, highlighting the country's significant economic growth and its investment of approximately one-third of its procurement expenditure in European Union countries. General Quattrociocchi and the SMA Delegation were accompanied, during all meetings, by the Italian Defence Attaché in Abuja, Colonel Emilio Rossi.
