Again, NAF
Again, NAF Graduates Male, Female Pilots
In its resolve to ensure availability of well trained pilots to
prosecute the ongoing war against insurgency, banditry and other
forms of criminality in the Country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF)
today, 10 September 2020, graduated additional 29 student pilots
who have completed their ab-initio flying training at the 401
Flying Training School (401 FTS), Kaduna.
The graduating students, who are members of 66 Regular Course of
the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), comprising 27 male and 2 female
officers, commenced training as flight cadets of NDA on 7 January
2019 as members of Student Pilots Course 46 (SP 46). With today’s
graduation, the NAF has successfully graduated 145 student pilots
from 401 FTS in the last 5 years.
While congratulating the graduands of SP 46 for withstanding the
rigours, hard work and stress associated with the training, the
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated
that his Administration’s drive to continually develop adequate
capacity for effective, efficient and timely employment of Air
Power in response to national security imperatives remains on
course. The CAS noted that SP 46 had successfully conducted their
flying training on both the Diamond 40 and Super Mushshak aircraft
types, which according to him, was a positive deviation from what
was obtainable in the past. The feat, he said, would not have been
achieved if not for the dedication of the ground instructors,
instructor pilots as well as prompt and effective aircraft
maintenance and availability of aviation fuel which ensured
qualitative training.
Air Marshal Abubakar enjoined the graduands to maintain the same
attitude of dogged determination as they proceed to the next phase
of military flying training while reminding them that there is more
work to be done to earn their wings. He charged them to continue to
exhibit the right aptitude and attitude as well as determination in
order to improve their flying skills. “You must continually develop
survival skills and be prepared to safely navigate platforms most
especially at night and in all weather conditions” he added. The
CAS further stated that at the inception of his Administration in
2015, 401 FTS had only 3 Diamond-40 platforms for the conduct of
flying training. The grossly inadequate number and the
unsuitability of the platform for aerobatics and other unusual
manoeuvres, he said, significantly diminished the ability of the
NAF to conduct military flying training. “Today, we have 15
platforms with a wide range of capabilities enabling quality
training. This has empowered 401 FTS to train a total of 145
student pilots from the end of 2015 to date. Additionally, 24
Instructor Pilots and 15 UAV pilots have also been trained within
the same period. These numbers represent the attainment of a
remarkable feat that had previously eluded the NAF”, he said. The
CAS therefore commended the Air Officer Commanding Air Training
Command (AOC ATC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Musa Mukhtar, as well as
the Commander 401 FTS, Air Commodore Ahmed Idris, and his entire
staff for their efforts in realizing this feat.
The CAS also thanked the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continued support and belief in
the ability of the NAF. He noted that the timely provision of the
much needed air assets as well as the resources to buy spares,
aviation fuel and other consumables by the Federal Government was
the most important factor that has translated into the commendable
achievements recorded by the Service. Furthermore, he noted that
the NAF’s ability to wing 114 pilots in the last 5 years
has led to a vibrant application of Air Power in combating the
security challenges facing the Country. According to him, the
multiplier effect has been a boost especially in the
counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts in the North East as
well as the fight against armed banditry in the North West and
North Central Zones of the Country.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Commander 401 FTS, while
thanking the CAS for his unrelenting support to the Unit, stated
that the Course was the first of its kind to have flown 2 different
platforms; the Diamond 40 and Super Mushshak aircraft during the
course of their training. He said the Unit achieved such feat even
when it had to contend with other demanding tasks. The Commander
noted that alongside the training of student pilots, the Unit is
also actively involved in airlift/VIP flights as well as
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in
support of Operations THUNDER STRIKE and HADARIN DAJI against armed
bandits in parts of North-West and North-Central Zones. According
to him, the student pilots began their training with ground
academic phase, which lasted for a period of 16 weeks, followed by
the various stages of the flying phase with all 29 of them
successfully completing the course with satisfactory levels of
airmanship.
One of the highlights of the colorful event, which also had the
NAF Chief of Training and Operations, AVM James Gwani, as well as
the Commandants of the NDA and Armed Forces Command and Staff
College in attendance, was the presentation of certificates to the
graduating students. Awards were also presented to graduands who
distinguished themselves on the Course, with Flying Officer Ja’afar
Abdulkadir bagging both the Best in Academics as well as the Best
All Round Student’s Awards, while Flying Officer Nicholas Egong
clinched the Best in Flying Award.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations & Information
Nigerian Air Force
10 September 2020
….
NAF Commissions Infrastructure Projects in Plateau
The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Right Honourable Simon
Bako Lalong, has commended the visionary leadership of the Chief of
the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, as well as his
outstanding diligence in the discharge of duties, which he said
would surely transform the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to become the
best Air Force in Africa. “We are witnesses to the great attention
the CAS has paid to the welfare and training of personnel of the
NAF throughout the country. He has also ensured the acquisition of
air platforms and other equipment necessary for the operations of
the Force”, he said. The Governor gave this commendation today, 9
September 2020, while commissioning some infrastructure projects
for NAF personnel at the 205 Combat Search and Rescue Group (205
CSARG) and the newly established Air Provost Training Centre
(APTC), at NAF Base Kerang, Mangu Local Government Area (LGA) of
Plateau State. The commissioned projects include 2 blocks of 10 x
single bedroom furnished residential accommodation for airmen
instructors and students of the APTC as well as an Officers’ Mess
for officers of the 2 Units.
The Governor, who was also in Kerang in 2017 during the ground
breaking ceremony/commissioning of the 205 CSARG Headquarters
Building, noted that the establishment of the Special Operations
Command (SOC) and subsequent siting of the Group in Kerang were
glowing evidences of the resolve, commitment and determination of
the Federal Government to ensure that law abiding citizens are
secured and peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians guaranteed. He
noted that the remarkable transformation that had taken place were
also hallmarks of the CAS’ dynamic leadership. While highlighting
that his Administration, with the cooperation of the Plateau
citizens and support of the Federal Government and security
agencies, had ensured the return of peace, he noted that there was
need for vigilance against merchants of crises who are always
scheming to take the State to the dark days. He therefore called on
the good people of Plateau State and especially the Kerang
Community, who generously acceded to the approval of this expanse
of land for the Unit, to continue to maintain peaceful and
harmonious coexistence in the interest of national security.
Governor Lalong further observed that prior to the establishment
of 205 CSARG, the Plateau State Government already had a cordial
working relationship with the NAF which, he said, played
significant role in tackling insecurity, promoting education and
delivering quality healthcare services to Plateau citizens. He
added that the establishment of the Group had widened the NAF’s
participation in the consolidation of peace and security of the
State, particularly in the rural areas. He stated further that, as
Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, he was aware of the
deployments of NAF air assets and personnel not only to Plateau
State and other parts of the North, but to other parts of the
Country where such challenges exist. “On behalf of my colleagues, I
register our appreciation to the President, Commander in Chief of
the Armed Forces, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, and the CAS for
responding to our pleas promptly”, he added. While urging personnel
of the Service to continue to foster the high standards of good
civil-military relations with host communities for which the NAF is
known, the Governor reassured the CAS of his Administration’s
commitment towards supporting the Service at all times.
In his remarks at the occasion, Air Marshal Abubakar, while
lauding Governor Lalong’s continued demonstration of strong
commitment to the security of the people of Plateau State, noted
that the reason for establishing the 205 CSARG was primarily to
further bring security closer to the people of the State. He noted
that this was in keeping with his Vision upon assumption of office
in 2015 which was “To reposition the NAF into a highly professional
and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for
effective, efficient and timely employment of airpower in response
to Nigeria’s national security imperatives”. He further disclosed
that, after assessing the structure of the Service, at the time it
was observed that it was inadequate to properly actualize the
Vision. The CAS noted that deliberate steps were therefore taken to
expand the organizational structure of the Service with the
creation of 2 new Field Commands, the Special Operations Command
(SOC) headquartered in Bauchi and the Ground Training Command (GTC)
in Enugu, as well as several specialized Units, including those at
Owerri in Imo State; Gusau in Zamfara State; Lafia in Nasarawa
State; Agatu in Benue State, Gembu in Taraba State and Bauchi in
Bauchi State. Others, he said, included the NAF Detachment in
Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State; a Forward Operating Base in Damaturu,
Yobe State; Quick Response Wing in Lafia, Nasarawa State as well as
the newly established 203 Combat Reconnaissance Group in Gombe,
Gombe State and the 205 CSARG Kerang. The CAS noted that the
upgraded structure has positioned the Service to more effectively
ensure the security of Nigeria and Nigerians, working in synergy
with sister Services and other security agencies.
Speaking further, the CAS stated that the NAF’s ability to
realize the Vision had also been boosted by the immense support of
the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu
Buhari, which had enabled the Service to procure 22 brand new
aircraft in the past 5 years, which were already deployed for
operations in different parts of the Country. He equally disclosed
that the NAF was also expecting 17 additional aircraft to be
delivered before the end of Year 2021. The CAS noted that in order
to effectively man these aircraft the Service had winged 114 new
pilots since 2015, while another 103 student pilots were undergoing
various levels of training to become qualified NAF pilots. He
further noted that the Service had trained over 2,000 new engineers
and technicians with another 500 expected to graduate from the Air
Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) by next week. The CAS also
noted that the Service had trained over 4,000 Regiment and Special
Forces personnel to ensure the protection of its bases and air
assets. Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized that the overall objective
was to ensure that the Service builds robust capacity to ensure a
secured, united and prosperous Nigeria.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC)
SOC, Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo, noted that since the
establishment of 205 CSARG in 2017, the NAF had continued to build
capacity to ensure that the NAF has capability for effective,
efficient and timely CSAR missions. He disclosed that after the
first few personnel were trained abroad, the training of subsequent
sets of CSAR were conducted locally at Kaduna and Ipetu-Ijesha, due
to high cost of foreign training. These personnel, who he said,
were capable of tracking, searching, locating and rescuing
occupants of downed combat aircraft or personnel in distress, were
currently deployed to various Theatres of Operation across the
Country. The AOC added that for the Unit to effectively undertake
its roles of medical and casualty evacuation, it needs to be
strengthened and equipped with platforms, equipment and
highly-trained professionals. According to him, the CAS, being
mindful of this, had authorized the execution of several projects,
which he said, were at various stages of completion. These, he
said, included a standard 22-bed Medical Centre, which would not
only cater for NAF personnel but also members of the host community
and others who may be referred to the facility.
Also present at the event were the Plateau State Deputy
Governor, Professor Sonny Theoden, and other top Government
functionaries of the State, Traditional Rulers form Mangu LGA as
well as the Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Branch Chiefs from the
NAF Headquarters, AOC Ground Training Command and other senior
military officers.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations & Information
Nigerian Air Force
9 September 2020