Air Marshal Abubakar NAF
Air Marshal Abubakar NAF Boss
Air Chief Declares Makurdi Military Airfield Open to
Civil Flight Operation
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,
yesterday, 10 January 2019, undertook an operational visit to the
21 Quick Response Wing (21 QRW) Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base
Agatu, Benue State to assess facilities as well as the state of
readiness of the troops of the Wing to deal with threats within the
area. While in Benue State, the CAS also declared the Makurdi
Military Airfield open to civil flight operations, after the
successful completion of repair work on the Runway and ancillary
facilities and having addressed all safety concerns.
Before declaring the Runway open to civil flight operations, the
CAS was conducted on an inspection tour of the completed works by
the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Air Vice
Marshal (AVM) Oladayo Amao, who mentioned that the scope of the
rehabilitation work covered refreshing of the sealant for the
concrete slab joints on the Runway, Taxiways and Apron as well as
the resurfacing of cracked portions of the manoeuvring area,
re-marking of the Runway and erosion control, amongst others.
Speaking after the inspection, the CAS commended the AOC TAC for
effective supervision of the project and also congratulated the NAF
Works Centre Abuja, which had executed the project through direct
labour, for doing a good job. He added that the repairs, which had
necessitated the closure of the Airfield to civil flight
operations, as published in relevant Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS),
were aimed at improving flight safety in accordance with global
best practices as well as in line with International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) regulations. He further stated that a NOTAM had
also been promulgated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency
(NAMA) to reopen the airfield for normal operations.
In Agatu, the CAS was received by the traditional ruler of
Agatu, Chief Dr Godwin Ngbede Onah, who conveyed the appreciation
of his people to the NAF for its immense contributions to the
return of normalcy in the area. The CAS was thereafter conducted on
a tour of some facilities at the 21 QRW Base by the Commanding
Officer 21 QRW, Squadron Leader Victor Ajeye, who also briefed him
on the activities of the Wing since its activation on 19 October
2019. Speaking after the brief, Air Marshal Abubakar expressed
satisfaction with the level of the facilities so far emplaced while
promising that immediate action would be taken to meet the
additional needs of the unit. This, he said, would include the
immediate provision of additional equipment and other facilities to
enable the Unit’s Medical Station better serve the NAF personnel
and members of the host community.
Speaking further, Air Marshal Abubakar thanked the troops for
their hard work, diligence and commitment, which had ensured that
peace was maintained in Agatu community, thus allowing the people
to pursue their legitimate aspirations. He urged them to remain
focused on their tasks while eschewing overtures from any quarters
to get involved in duties outside their purview. He reminded them
that, as the General Elections draw closer, they must remain
apolitical and professional in the performance of their duties
while exercising their legitimate rights to vote for the candidates
of their choice on Election Day. The CAS later fielded questions,
comments and observations from the troops.
Earlier in his welcome address, the AOC Special Operations
Command (SOC), AVM Samson Akpasa, thanked the CAS for his firm
commitment to ensuring security, not only in Agatu but also in the
entire Nasarawa-Benue States corridor, through the provision of
necessary resources to 21 QRW. He said the commitment of the CAS
was evidenced by his frequent visits to the area, this being the
third in just 3 months. He said the effects of the CAS’ commitment
and presence of NAF personnel in the area were already being felt
because the people of the community were seen carrying out their
normal farming activities and harvesting produce as expected. He
pledged the commitment of the personnel to remain professional
while ensuring that lives and property of members of the
communities within their Area of Responsibility (AOR) remained
secure.
The 21 QRW Agatu has, since its establishment, not only been
maintaining security in the area but also ensuring good
civil-military relations with the host community. The Wing recently
hosted a Medical Outreach from 3 – 8 January 2019, on the
directives of the CAS, which had a Team of Medical experts from the
Medical Services Branch Headquarters NAF that provided free medical
services to nearly 4,000 members of the Agatu Community. This
included about 3,500 general consultations, with free medications
provided, as well as 47 minor eye and general surgeries and
distribution of 150 insecticide treated mosquito nets and 100
prescription eye glasses, among others. The CAS has since returned
to Abuja.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force