NAF, NEMA Airlift Relief Materials for Flood Victims in Mozambique

NAF, NEMA Airlift Relief Materials for Flood Victims in Mozambique

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has completed the airlifting of relief materials to Mozambique and Zimbabwe to further assist victims of the massive flooding that affected some communities in those countries in April 2019. The airlift missions, which were conducted for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), conveyed critical relief materials such as drugs, medical supplies and treated mosquito nets donated by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims.

The airlift missions were executed by NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft, in furtherance of the NAF’s constitutional roles of projecting air power beyond the shores of the Country as well as providing Military Aid to Civil Authority. The C-130H airlifted 12,000 Kg (12 tonnes) of relief materials from Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to the Maputo International Airport, Maputo Mozambique on 26 August 2019, while 8,100 Kg (8 tonnes) of materials were delivered at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport Harare, Zimbabwe today, 31 August 2019.

The NAF aircrew and NEMA officials handed over the items to Officials from the Nigeria High Commission in the 2 countries for onward delivery to their host governments.

Prior to this, the NAF had, in May 2019, conducted the first batch of the airlift missions for NEMA using an ATR-42 aircraft, in 3 sorties, to airlift a total of 15,000 Kg (15 tonnes) of similar relief materials to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. It may be recalled that, in August 2017, the NAF had similarly airlifted 38,000 Kg of FGN-donated relief materials to Freetown, Sierra Leone, in the aftermath of the devastating mudslides and floods that ravaged the Country.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
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NAF Provides Accomodation to Non-Commissioned Officers

As part of its barrack renewal efforts to ensure that its personnel live in decent and comfortable accommodation for effective and efficient service delivery, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commissioned a renovated block of 30 x 2-bedroom flats for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja, Lagos. While commissioning the accommodation, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, represented by the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command (AOC LC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Abdulganiyu Olabisi, stated that one of the top priorities of the current NAF Administration has been the provision of decent housing for personnel and their families.

This, he emphasized, was aimed at ensuring that personnel remained focused on the task of ensuring the safety and security of Nigeria and Nigerians. He remarked that the Service, over the last 4 years, had not only embarked on the construction of new residential accommodations but also ensured that existing ones, which had become dilapidated over the years, received adequate attention in order to address the challenges of accommodation for personnel in NAF Units across the country.

This, he said, has impacted positively on the welfare of personnel thereby motivating them for effective performance of their duties.

The representative of the CAS, while challenging occupants of the renovated block to ensure adequate maintenance of the facilities, noted that in the First Quarter of 2019, similar buildings on Sam Ethnan Air Force Base had been renovated.

“We have renovated 2 blocks of 30 x 2-bedroom flats this year, while the renovation of another block of 30 x 2-bedroom flats is ongoing and will be completed in a few weeks”, he said. He further disclosed that, in addition to the renovated blocks, 2 blocks of 6 x 3-bedroom flats were being constructed at the Junior Officers’ Quarters on the Base, which, when completed in a few months, would further ameliorate the accommodation challenges of junior officers on the Base. He noted that, as part of efforts to enhance the capacity of personnel of the NAF Works and Services Directorates as well as save cost, some of the projects were being executed by direct labour. He therefore commended the Director of Services Headquarters NAF and his team for their efforts in ensuring the timely and efficient completion of the renovation works, while also appreciating the Commander 651 Base Services Group for his effective supervision of the project.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force