AVM Mohammed Idris Heads Tactical Air Command
The newly appointed Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command (TAC) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Mohammed Idris on Friday, 14 July 2017 formally took over command during a ceremony, which held at the Command’s Headquarters in Makurdi. AVM Idris replaced the former AOC, AVM Nurudeen Balogun, who has now been redeployed to the Headquarters of the NAF in Abuja, as the Chief of Training and Operations. The new AOC, until his appointment as the AOC TAC, was the Director of Training at the Headquarters of the NAF.
In his remarks during the ceremony, AVM Idris pledged to contribute his quota by not only building from where his predecessor stopped but also taking the necessary steps to keep the NAF fighter aircraft in the air. The AOC further assured the officers and airmen/airwomen of the Command that together with them, the Command would intensify efforts to flush out the remnants of the Boko Haram insurgents. He added that during his tenure, he would not relent on his oars in the fight to preserve the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
AVM Idris, a seasoned combat fighter pilot is a member of 35 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna. He was commissioned to the rank of Pilot Officer in the NAF in December 1987. In the course of his military career, the new AOC has flown various aircraft types in the NAF inventory and has also participated in various operations in Nigeria. It would be recalled that a recent restructuring exercise in the NAF resulted in the redeployment of several senior officers.
Meanwhile in another development, the Enugu State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has assured the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) that his administration would give maximum support to ensure the smooth take-off of the newly established NAF Ground Training Command (GTC), with Headquarters in Enugu. This assurance was given when the pioneer Air Officer Commanding (AOC) GTC Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Samson Akpasa paid a courtesy call on the Governor at the Government House Enugu. Governor Ugwuanyi welcomed and congratulated AVM Akpasa on his appointment as the pioneer AOC GTC.
He added that Enugu State was indeed pleased and privileged to host the new NAF Command. He went further to state that his government had always enjoyed a cordial working relationship with security agencies in the State, particularly the NAF, and that the State Government would not relent in its efforts in that regard.
Earlier in his address, AVM Samson Akpasa informed Governor Ugwuanyi that the present security architecture of the country led to the restructuring of the NAF, with the GTC emerging as a byproduct of that exercise. He added that the location of the new NAF Command in Enugu would go a long a way in enhancing security in the State, aside from the potential economic benefits to Enugu State citizens. He also expressed the readiness of the Command to work harmoniously with the State Government in the discharge of its responsibilities.
It may be recalled that the NAF recently embarked on a restructuring exercise to further enhance the effective, efficient and timely projection of air power by the Service. The exercise resulted in the establishment of 2 new Commands namely Air Training Command (ATC), with Headquarters in Kaduna, and Ground Training Command (GTC), with Headquarters in Enugu.
The two new Commands were excised from the now defunct Training Command Kaduna thereby bringing the total number of Commands in the NAF to six. While the ATC will be responsible for the implementation of policies on local flying and air operations training, the GTC will be responsible for the implementation of policies on local ground training. AVM Akpasa, a seasoned pilot and administrator, was accompanied on the visit by NAF Commanders and other senior NAF officers in Enugu State.
Olatokunbo Adesanya
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
