Late Squadron Leader Baba-Ari
Late Squadron Leader Baba-Ari
NAF Immortalizes Fighter-Pilot Baba-Ari in
Maiduguri
As a mark of honour for the supreme price paid by Late Squadron
Leader (Sqn Ldr) Muhammed Bello Baba-Ari, an experienced fighter
pilot who died on 28 September 2018 while participating in the
aerial display rehearsals for the 58th Nigerian Independence Day
Celebration, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has named the newly
commissioned Pilots’ Crew Room at the Headquarters Air Task Force
(HQ ATF) Operation LAFIYA DOLE in Maiduguri after the late senior
officer. The ultra-modern Pilots Crew Room Building, which houses a
briefing room, computer room/library, pilots’ life-support room,
lounge, recreation room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms for pilots on standby
as well as several restrooms, would go a long way in adding value
to the fight against insurgency and bolstering the morale of
officers and men in the frontlines. The ceremony, which took place
in Maiduguri today, 18 December 2018, also witnessed the
commissioning of a newly constructed HQ ATF Extension Building as
well as the winging of 5 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) pilots, in
furtherance of the capacity building initiatives of the current NAF
leadership.
In his remarks during the event, the Special Guest of Honour
(SGOH), former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Al-Amin
Daggash, commended the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar, for the monumental achievements the current NAF
administration has made since 2015. He acknowledged the many
milestones attained in such a short time, as evidenced by the many
completed projects in all NAF Bases across the Country. This, he
said, was a clear testimony of the zeal and commitment of the CAS
to the welfare of NAF personnel. He equally expressed admiration
for the remarkable operational achievements the NAF had recorded in
the past 3 years. According to him, the achievements were clearly
manifested in the NAF’s effective projection of air power in
pursuit of national security objectives across the country,
particularly in Operation LAFIYA DOLE. He noted that the highly
commendable operational successes were attributed largely to the
dynamic leadership of the CAS as well as the acquisition and
induction of various platforms into the inventory of the NAF by the
Federal Government. He therefore expressed appreciation to
President Muhammadu Buhari for providing necessary support to
enhance the operational readiness and welfare of the Armed Forces
of Nigeria, in spite of the current economic realities of the
Country.
Speaking further, Air Marshal Daggash noted that the winging of
the 5 UAV pilots was yet another testimony of the CAS’ adept
dexterity in focusing attention on all aspects of Service growth.
He congratulated the officers for attaining their new status while
urging them to employ their newly acquired knowledge and skill to
add value to efforts aimed at securing the nation. The former CDS
also commended the CAS for immortalizing late Sqn Ldr Baba-Ari, a
committed, dedicated and experienced fighter pilot who participated
actively in the operations in the North-East, by naming the
magnificent Pilots’ Crew Room Building after him. He described the
gesture as befitting and appropriate. He enjoined officers and men
to imbibe such sterling qualities while redoubling their efforts to
uplift the NAF and the Nation to more enviable heights.
The CAS, in his opening remarks, expressed delight to be in
Maiduguri to assess the conduct of operations while also seizing
the opportunity to witness the commissioning of the projects and
winging of the UAV pilots. He noted that the event was another
opportunity to re-focus attention on the clarion call of the nation
for increased commitment to duty and service. He observed that the
NAF has been performing very crucial roles towards providing the
much needed air support to enable ground operations proceed
unhindered. According to him, “in pursuit of the NAF’s
constitutional roles, and also in line with my vision for the NAF,
I have constantly sought, not only to evolve strategies that would
enable the Service adequately project air power to effectively and
efficiently deal with prevalent security threats, but to also see
to it that personnel welfare is given utmost priority”, he
said.
The CAS, who expressed satisfaction with the progressive
performances of the ATF against the insurgents, especially during
the last Operation GREEN SWEEP, further charged the Task Force to
reciprocate the various welfare enhancements by dealing harder and
more effective blows against the remaining elements of the Boko
Haram insurgents with a view to completely eliminating them. He
reassured the troops of NAF support, particularly in providing what
they require to prosecute the war, as far as the prevailing
national economic realities permit. Air Marshal Abubakar also
thanked the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,
President Muhammadu Buahari, for his overwhelming support to the
NAF towards the achievement of its desired goals. He pledged the
resolute commitment of the Service to the successful execution of
the ongoing counterinsurgency efforts. He also specially
appreciated the SGOH and former CDS for his presence at the event
while noting that the enviable status of the NAF was attributable
to the legacies he and previous Chiefs had built in the past.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander ATF, Air Vice
Marshal James Gwani, said the CAS, in seeking to enhance the
welfare of the ever increasing number of personnel posted to the
ATF, had embarked on massive construction of office and residential
accommodation in NAF Base Maiduguri. He noted that this had gone
long way in boosting the morale and fighting spirit of the troops.
He said the Pilots’ Crew Room was simply another one of such
morale-boosting initiatives aimed at providing a dedicated,
purpose-built location for aircrew to relax and refresh before or
after operational missions. He therefore expressed the profound
gratitude of the entire ATF to the CAS for the final realization of
a Pilots’ Crew Room, consistent with international standards.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force