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The Chief of Air Staff(CAS) Air Marshall, Sadique Abubakar on Monday, announced the acquisition of 6 brand new helicopters to rejuvenate the country’s airpower in the on going fight against Boko Haram insurgents and other criminals.
Abubakar stated this is the first time in 18 years that the Nigerian Air force (NAF) will be acquiring such number of aircrafts.
The Air chief made the disclosure at the winging of 14 pilots at the NAF headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
He said the flight officers will be deployed to boost the air component of Operation Lafiya Dole in the North East, and other internal security operations.
“This is the first time in about 18 years that we are acquiring 6 brand new helicopters for the air force. This is quite significant in the sense that at least we are building capacity and making sure that we have the right number of qualified staff that will man this helicopters that have been acquired..
“Acquiring the number of platforms in the air force. for us to have this platform flying we have to train the pilots.
” Human capacity is the most important .You can have all the aircraft but if you don’t have people who are trained to fight with aircraft, you will still not get anything. Now that the government is acquiring more platforms for us, we already have pilots.,” he said.
Abubakar further added that this was the second time the NAF was graduating new pilots this year.
“This is the second that we are winging pilots this year and this shows that we are thinking ahead of what the government is providing for us and I think it is really impacting positively.”
BusinessDay gathered that of the 14 new Pilots trained by the Nigerian Air force, two are from Liberia who acquired their training from the International Aviation College in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as well as the Afrika Union Aviation Academy, South Africa.
“In realization of our drive for human capacity development through robust and result oriented training for enhanced professional performance, I am pleased that 12 more Nigerian Air Force pilots along with 2 of their Liberian counterparts are being winged today, having concluded their training in Kaduna and Ilorin.
“To our dear guests and brothers from Liberia, I hereby express our appreciation for the confidence you displayed in us by allowing us train your first set of pilots. I believe this is another milestone aimed at strengthening the relations between our nations”, he said.
He reiterated NAF’s efforts at defending the territorial integrity of the country. While noting that countries of the world were contending with myriads of armed conflicts such as terrorism and other violent crimes.
“The Twenty- First Century is characterised by plethora of armed conflicts occasioned by struggle for political power among ethnic nationalities and sub-nationalities.
“Resource based conflicts, terrorism and militancy have also continued to define the post-Cold War international environment.
“The Nigerian Air Force in the last 3 years or thereabout have continued to project air power both within and outside Nigeria.
“To achieve this, we have embarked on human capacity development to reposition the Nigerian Air Force to adequately deal with these challenges”
On his part, the minister of Defence, Mansur Dan- Alli who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Nuratu Batagarwa , said the winging of the Liberian pilots will further stimulate the existing bilateral relationship,collaborations and collective success in the defeating terrorism .
” To our Liberian counterpart It is pleasing to note that the decision of the Armed forces of Liberia to partner with Armed forces of Nigeria in several areas of mutual interest has greatly promoted the existing bilateral relationship among our two countries. …..It is so that this relationship will continue between our two countries while an extension of same to other sister nations particularly the west African sub region towards the process of strengthening the existing collaborations for our collective success in defeating terrorism and insurgency as well as achieving sustainable global peace which we all desire.
He further stated that” Let me use this opportunity to assure Nigerians that federal government under the leadership of president Muhammadu Buhari remain resolute in safe guarding lives and properties and achieving sustainable peace across the length and breath of the nation. To this end, the government will continue to provide the necessary support and encouragement to the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies,” he said.
In his remarks the Minister of national defence, the republic of Liberia Daniel Ziankahn thanked the NAF for it’s continuous support to the Liberian Armed Forces .
“In the lives of the Liberians this is huge, this is the first Air pilots that we have just trained ,you have just trained , talking about Nigeria and so they are going to be the trail blazer for our air wing and our air Force. As a state, Liberian does not have an Air force. they will be a trailblazer and we are very elated at this.
“We look forward to a broader relationship and we will not stop here, we will try to seek out more of these slots so as to build our air force,he stated .
Stella Enenche, Abuja
