NAF, Bangladesh Discuss
NAF, Bangladesh Discuss Capacity Building
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is set to strengthen already
existing ties with the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh to enhance
its capacity building drive. This was revealed today, 25 July 2019,
by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,
while playing host to the Bangladesh Ambassador to Nigeria, His
Excellency Md. Shameem Ahsan, in his office at the Headquarters
NAF, Abuja. The areas of collaboration to be explored include basic
fighter pilot training, helicopter pilot training, research and
development (R&D), and training of Aviation Medicine personnel
as well as other relevant fields that would enhance service
delivery.
While expressing delight to receive the Ambassador in his
office, Air Marshal Abubakar noted that Bangladesh has always been
a friend of the NAF and has been providing training opportunities
for selected NAF personnel for Junior and Senior Staff Courses as
well as the National Defence Course. He added that the NAF was
willing to take the collaboration further so as to glean from
Bangladesh’s experience in other areas including pilot training and
R&D. He equally observed that the NAF was willing to embark on
Faculty exchange programmes between the Air Force War College
Makurdi and her counterparts in Bangladesh. Additionally, the CAS
noted that, due to the ongoing rapid expansion of the NAF Medical
Services Branch to provide better healthcare services for its
personnel, their families and host communities, the NAF had
established a Reference Hospital in Bauchi and upgraded the NAF
Hospitals in Port Harcourt and Lagos to Reference Hospitals, and
was on the verge of commissioning a new Reference Hospital in
Daura. He said the Service would therefore like to take advantage
of opportunities in Bangladesh to bolster the capacity of its
medical personnel to enable them more effectively man these
facilities.
Responding, the Bangladesh Ambassador expressed his country’s
readiness to further deepen the already existing cordial
relationship between Nigeria and Bangladesh. He assured the CAS of
the Bangladesh Government’s commitment to continue to collaborate
with the NAF in all the areas of mutual interest.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information