NAF
Presidential Directive:
NAF
Presidential Directive: Air Chief Inspects Facilities
for Operational Movement
In compliance with presidential directives to move to
operational areas in the Northeast and Northwest of the country,
the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has
undertaken an operational visit to Kano to assess the levels of
preparedness of the 403 Flying Training School (403 FTS) and 465
Nigerian Air Force Hospital (465 NAFH) to support operations in
both theatres.
At the 403 FTS, the CAS inspected ongoing reactivation work on 3
NAF L-39ZA aircraft, which is aimed at boosting NAF’s training
capacity while also enhancing its air power capability for Counter
Insurgency (COIN) operations in the Northeast and anti-armed
banditry operations in the Northwest. The CAS also commissioned
the newly equipped state-of-the-art Modular Operating Theatre at
465 NAFH. The theatre, which is the first of its kind in Northwest
Nigeria, was completed in furtherance of the CAS’ resolve to ensure
personnel and their families have access to world-class medical
services.
Speaking during the visit, the CAS restated NAF’s commitment to
providing its personnel and their families with comprehensive
healthcare facilities for enhanced wellbeing. He therefore urged
personnel and their families to take maximum advantage of the
facilities which had been provided for their benefit. He noted
further that, in line with the NAF tradition of giving back to its
host communities, the facility would also be open to the good and
hospitable people of Kano State. The CAS also reaffirmed the
commitment of the Service to periodically reach out to surrounding
rural communities to provide them with the much needed preventive
healthcare services, including health education.
Air Marshal Abubakar highlighted that his vision for the NAF,
upon assumption of office, was to develop a highly professional
force for the effective, efficient and timely employment of Air
Power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives. This,
he noted, required having the right structure, equipment, manpower
disposition and welfare support system. He acknowledged that the
current Federal leadership had facilitated all of these
enhancements, thereby empowering the Service to more effectively
carry out its constitutional roles. He therefore seized the
opportunity to thank the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of
Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continued support to
the NAF, which had led to the acquisition of 18 brand new aircraft
in the last 3 years; with another 12 A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and
6 Agusta 109 Power Helicopter Gunships being expected from the
United States of America and Italy, respectively. The CAS noted, in
particular, that, the NAF has been able to embark on several
infrastructural projects aimed at enhancing the welfare of
personnel to enable them focus on assigned tasks. These included
the establishment of new schools and upgrade of existing ones,
provision of new office and residential accommodation in units
across the country as well as the establishment of 2 new Reference
Hospitals in Bauchi and Port Harcourt, in addition to the
establishment of 4 new Cancer Screening Centres and upgrade of
medical facilities in NAF Hospitals nationwide. The CAS remarked
that the Modular Theatre being commissioned was another of such
value additions. He pledged that the NAF would continue to strive
for excellence in fulfilling its constitutional roles, in
collaboration with sister Services, to provide the necessary
security as Nigeria marches on towards greater peace and
prosperity.
Speaking earlier, the acting Chief of Medical Services, NAF
Headquarters, Air Commodore Mohammed Shaibu, stated that the
completion of the Modular Theatre was only made possible due to the
dogged determination of the CAS. He noted that the project, which
was started about 6 years ago, was neither fully completed nor
equipped and therefore could not be put to use. He noted however,
that in view of the strategic importance of the hospital in support
of COIN Operations in the Northeast, the CAS directed that the
Theatre be completed, equipped and put to immediate use, so that
injured personnel evacuated from the frontlines could be stabilized
and treated in the hospital. The Modular Theatre, which comprises a
reception, lecture and recovery rooms, offices and 2 operating
suites, is equipped with modern anesthetic machines, operating
tables, theatre lamps, C-arm machines and operating microscopes,
among others.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force