NAF, Army Decorate Newly Promoted Top Military Officers
NAF Decorates Newly Promoted Senior Officers
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today, 21 November 2019, decorated 13 Air Commodores and 35 Group Captains, who were recently promoted to the next higher ranks of Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodore by the Air Force Council. The decoration ceremony, which took place at the Headquarters NAF Abuja, was witnessed by a large turnout of senior officers, both serving and retired, as well as family members and friends. While decorating the senior officers, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, charged them to rededicate themselves to the service of Nigeria as they prepare for higher challenges. According to him, “in the race to add value to the society and secure communities, there should be no finishing line”. “Your promotion will cost tax payers additional resources and this must translate to additional security for Nigeria and Nigerians”, he added.
Air Marshal Abubakar reiterated that the promotion of the senior officers was premised on their past excellent performances and the resolve of the Service to constantly reward excellence. The CAS noted further that the increasingly complex and challenging security environment requires the Service to put forward its very best at all times. He therefore, stated that promotion could no longer be business as usual. According to him, “while time on rank would, understandably, continue to be central, factors such as merit, productivity, establishment vacancy, deployability and, to some extent, geographical spread have combined to raise the bar and make the race even more competitive”, he said.
The CAS explained further that, in the discharge of military responsibilities, the demands on members of the Armed Forces are unique, requiring, in some instances. Thus, he said it is very important that the Services are led by persons of exceptional leadership qualities so as to eliminate or minimize costly mistakes during operations, which is even higher in the case of the Air Force given the complex nature of air operations. He went further to specially applaud the spouses and family members of the newly promoted senior officers, while imploring them to sustain the support they have been giving to enable them excel in their new, higher responsibilities. He tasked the newly promoted officers to brace up for the challenges ahead especially in the collective resolve to regenerate the NAF and ensure a secured Nigeria. He urged them to continue to apply their skills, experience, commitment and time when and wherever demanded.
While highlighting the progress made in repositioning the Service into a highly professional and disciplined force over the last 4 years, Air Marshal Abubakar disclosed that, through the priority attention given to human capacity development, the Service has witnessed unprecedented improvement in aircraft serviceability rate across all NAF platforms. He said notable achievements had also been made in the area of Research and Development, such as the production of the diaphragm for the Mi-35P helicopter and L39ZA aircraft, amongst many other breakthroughs. Other areas where significant value had been added, he said, were in the expansion of the NAF Regiment Speciality, with the Force Protection in Complex Air and Ground Environment (FP-CAGE) and Special Forces training to equip the personnel with the skills required to adequately protect NAF bases and other critical national assets. In terms of flying training, the CAS noted that over 100 pilots had been winged in the last 4 years, with the NAF now boasting of a total of 6 female pilots. Air Marshal Abubakar observed that all the achievements would not have been possible without the support of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari. He therefore pledged the commitment of the Service to Mr President’s vision of a secure and prosperous Nation.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chief of Administration (COA), Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Lar, noted that the occasion was another milestone in the career development of the senior officers, who were able to scale through the painstaking screening process as well as the approval by the Air Force Council. He noted that elevation comes with higher responsibilities and therefore enjoined the newly decorated officers to be more diligent, committed and accountable in the discharge of their duties as well as in their interactions with their professional colleagues and civilians.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
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Nigerian Army decorates 31 Major General
The Nigerian Army has adorned new 31 Brigadier General with the rank of Major General, in recognition of their hardwork, dedication, commitment, and loyalty to the federal republic of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army.
The ceremony took place on Thursday at the Army Headquarters Command Officers Mess, Abuja.
In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff, Liutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai tasked the new senior officers to put forth diligence, zeal and commitment whenever they are deployed on a task anytime as may be required with the new rank.
“I will like you to ensure that whenever you are deployed again to carry out on a task should be done with that zeal and commitment, so that the objective and indeed our mission as an institution, as a force, will be accomplished at all time,” COAS said.
He however urged them to be focused, responsive and be loyal to the constitution of Nigeria and the president; the commander-in-chief.
“On this elevation, they deserve it. It’s well deserved. I urge you to remain focus, remain responsive and of course all remain loyal to the constitution of the country and as well as our president, the commander-in-chief. And ensure you are in a right place at the right time,” he said
The Minister of Defence, General Bashir Magashi (Rtd), urged the newly ranked officers to justify the confidence repose in them, having found worthy among several other qualified to put more efforts in containing the menace of insecurity bedevilling the country.
“Indeed, this elevation is in recognition of the hardworking, dedication, commitment and loyalty. Also, it is in recognition of the sacrifices made individually and collectively in the Armed Forces of the federal republic of Nigeria,” he said.
“Be ready to discharge any task that may come within the new rank.
“Therefore, the elevation accord to you to make more sacrifices while doubling the efforts in discharging the duties as enshrined by the constitution, particularly, as the nation is confronted with the security challenges.”
Meanwhile, Major General Suleiman Idris, on behalf of other decorated officers appreciated COAS for finding them worthy of the elevation and promised to be dutiful and responsive
By PRNigeria
