NAF Hosts Strategic Commanders’ Retreat for Enhancing Efficiency

NAF Hosts Strategic Commanders’ Retreat for Enhancing Efficiency

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced a two-day Commanders’ Retreat for 2020 at the NAF Officers Mess and Suites Kado, Abuja. The Retreat, which holds from 20 to 21 February 2020, has in attendance NAF Commanders from Formations and Units across the Country, who essentially serve as the fulcrum for the translation and execution of NAF strategies into actionable plans through the daily leadership and administration of various NAF elements.

The Theme of the Retreat, which is being held as part of efforts to evolve strategies to meet the requirements of the ever-changing national security environment, is “Enhancing Efficiency and Effectiveness of NAF Unit Commanders in Contemporary Security Environment”.

In his remarks at the event, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubarkar, reiterated that the Retreat was organised to enhance the capacity of Commanders and potential Commanders in the NAF. He noted that the vision of his administration is hinged on human capacity development. He disclosed that this was why the Service has made consistent efforts over the years to conduct over 26,000 training courses for officers, airmen and airwomen, both locally and abroad, across various NAF specialties, towards ensuring the effective and efficient employment of air power in response to National security imperatives.

Speaking further, the CAS reminded Commanders of their responsibilities to the Nation as a fighting force. According to him, the NAF is obligated to protect the sovereignty and sanctity of Nigeria as well as the lives and properties of the citizens and inhabitants. These objectives, he said, could only be achieved through a sound mind, renewed orientation and re-evaluation of one’s actions and inactions as a leader. “It is also pertinent to remind ourselves of the contemporary asymmetric nature of warfare, which has defied the conventional battle. We must recognise that this war cannot be fought in isolation of the civil populace, hence the need to integrate and win the hearts and minds of the civilian populace towards gaining intelligence to further our missions and operations”, he added.

Air Marshal Abubarkar went further to charge the Commanders on the need for prudent management of resources. According to him, in the midst of economic challenges, resources at the disposal of the NAF and its Commanders must be utilized prudently towards the attainment of set objectives. He added that the current Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has zero tolerance for financial misappropriation. The CAS therefore charged the Commanders to keep abreast of the financial regulations as regards the use of public funds. He assured them that the NAF Headquarters, on its part, would continue to work assiduously to ensure that the mandate assigned to the Service is achieved. “As such Commanders should remain assured of our support towards the successful conduct of missions and operations. I therefore implore you all to maximize the opportunity afforded by this Retreat to learn from the experiences of our retired colleagues, rub minds and clear grey areas”, he added.

In his remarks, the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Isiaka Amao, who earlier welcomed the Guest of Honour and other senior officers to the Retreat, noted that the 2020 Commanders’ Retreat would consolidate on the gains recorded during previous editions, which, he said, reflected positively on the output of participants. He noted that, while the NAF was aware that the Commanders had acquired some knowledge and equipped themselves with various tools for the discharge of command duties either from staff courses, war colleges, defence colleges or through personal efforts, they would undoubtedly benefit from the experiences of others to function optimally. “Moreover, the fluid nature of the contemporary security situation requires Commanders to be flexible in the discharge of command responsibilities of which shared ideas and experiences could greatly help, in the light of command challenges”, he added.

Two presentations were made on the first day of the Retreat. The first presentation was made by AVM Gabriel Odesola (retired) on “Understanding the Rudiments of Command Responsibility in an Asymmetric Environment”, while the second presentation was made by the Assistant Director Analysis Compliance from the National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). Day 2 will feature presentations on “Enhancing Civil-Military Relations – Commanders’ Role” and “Strategic Decision Making in Command Appointments – My Experience” by AVM PC Abel (retired) and AVM AA Zannah (retired), respectively. The Year 2020 Retreat is purposed to avail commanders and prospective commanders with out-of-the-book experiences from retired senior officers who held command appointments while in the Service. It will also provide room for sharing of opinions and experiences of various commanders on command responsibilities, issues and challenges.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
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NAF TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is set to partner with the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to take full advantage of the competencies of members of the Institute in ensuring that construction projects are well executed in line with international best practices. This was revealed today, 19 February 2020, by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubarkar, while playing host to the President NIQS, Quantity Surveyor (QS) M. Abba Tor, and other Executive Members of the Institute, in his office at Headquarters NAF, Abuja. According to the CAS, the NAF will immediately key into the opportunities provided by the Institute in the areas of training and evaluation of projects.

Speaking further, the CAS noted that, in the last 5 years, the strength of the NAF had almost doubled and this made it expedient to continually embark on construction of new buildings and other necessary infrastructure to ensure that personnel are properly accommodated. According to him, among the many officers enlisted into the NAF through the Direct Short Service Commission in the past 5 years, some were Quantity Surveyors who have been adding value to the Service through the application of their professional knowledge and skills. He added that in the area of capacity building, the NAF had trained several professionals and would not relent in its efforts at ensuring that its personnel remain abreast of modern trends and innovations in the field of QS. While assuring the Institute of the readiness of the NAF to enlist more QS, Air Marshal Abubarkar, noted that the Service would also improve on its participation in workshops and seminars that may be organized by the NIQS.

In his remarks, the NIQS President thanked the CAS for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage, while commending the monumental achievements recorded by the NAF under the leadership of Air Marshal Abubakar. According to him, “the leadership and members of the NIQS join the numerous well-meaning patriots in appreciating your sterling qualities, professionalism and devotion towards accomplishing the constitutional mandates of the NAF”. He added that the Institute would work towards ensuring that areas of mutual interest and collaboration between the NAF and the NIQS, which will contribute to national growth and development, are further explored. He however appealed for the establishment of a Department of QS at the Air Force Institute of Technology Kaduna, which the CAS promised would be looked into in line with the requirements of the National Universities Commission and the National Board for Technical Education.

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