NAF
Yobe Governor Praises
NAF
Yobe Governor Praises NAF on Giant Strides
The Executive Governor of Yobe State, Honourable Mai Mala Buni,
has commended the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique
Abubakar, for the giant developmental strides recorded by the
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the last 4 to 5 years as well as the
successes recorded in the war against insurgency and terrorism.
He said the patriotism, bravery and commitment of NAF officers
and men who go the extra mile to ensure the safety and security of
Nigeria and Nigerians by conducting daring raids into terrorists’
locations to destroy their facilities and neutralize their fighters
were highly commendable.
The Governor made this known on Thursday, 17 October 2019, while
receiving the CAS on a courtesy call at Government House Damaturu.
The Governor also led the CAS on a tour of facilities and progress
of work at the proposed Damaturu International Cargo Airport.
Governor Buni, while welcoming the CAS to Government House
Damaturu, noted that the visit of the CAS to the State would
further solidify the excellent working relations between the NAF
and the Yobe State Government.
He seized the opportunity to thank the Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his leadership and
dedication in dealing with the security situation in the Northeast
which, he said, had yielded significant results against insurgents,
terrorists and other criminal elements. He equally commended the
CAS, as well as other Service Chiefs, for their resilient efforts
in defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
The Yobe State Governor stated that he had been observing the
giant strides made by the NAF under the leadership of Air Marshal
Abubakar, which had resulted in several landmark achievements.
He said he was particularly delighted with the recent winging of
the first female fighter jet pilot as well as the first female
helicopter pilot in the 55 years history of the Service.
He therefore urged the CAS to sustain the developmental strides
whilst also maintaining the tempo of operations against the
terrorists and other criminal elements. Governor Buni observed that
he would continue to provide all necessary support to the NAF and
other security agencies to enable them operate effectively in the
State. He said the State Government would also continue to
encourage its people to give useful information to enhance the
operations of security agencies in the State. Regarding the
Damaturu International Cargo Airport project, Honourable Buni said
he was counting on the support of the CAS to ensure the success of
the project whist also requesting for the establishment of a NAF
Base as well as an Air Force Secondary School in Damaturu.
Speaking earlier, Air Marshal Abubakar stated the successes so
far recorded in the war against insurgency would not have been
possible without the cooperation of the Government and good people
of the State. He therefore expressed the appreciation of the
Service to the Governor for his tremendous support. The CAS
remarked that the NAF, in the last 5 years, has continued to
reposition itself to more effectively deal with the emerging
security challenges facing the Nation. He noted that this had been
achieved through massive capacity building, with over 100 pilots
winged during the period and tens of thousands of personnel trained
in other NAF specialities including engineers, technicians,
Regiment and Special Forces, amongst others.
These, he said, had enabled the Service to maintain an
unprecedented aircraft serviceability rate that had facilitated the
effective and efficient employment of air power, whilst also
ensuring the security of NAF Bases and assets.
The CAS disclosed that the Service was on the verge of receiving
2 additional attack helicopters, which, he said, would further
boost operations in Borno and Yobe States. Furthermore, he said the
completion of the Damaturu International Cargo Airport project
would give added impetus to air operations in the Northeast, as the
NAF would be able to operate from Damaturu instead of just from
Maiduguri. He disclosed that arrangements would be made to
establish a Military Airport Commandant’s (MAC) Office, along with
its complements of Regiment personnel, at the Airport, once
completed. He said this would be a precursor to the eventual
establishment of a NAF unit in Damaturu to further enhance
operations in the area.
The Governor, the CAS and other dignitaries were conducted on a
tour of ongoing work at the International Cargo Airport along the
Damaturu-Geidam Road. The CAS was accompanied on the visit by the
Chief of Training and Operations Headquarters (HQ) NAF, Air Vice
Marshal Oladayo Amao, as well as the Air Task Force Commander
Operation LAFIYA DOLE, Air Commodore Precious Amadi, along with
other senior officers from HQ NAF.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force