Air Chief Assesses Troops on Anti-Banditry Air operation in Niger State

Air Chief Assesses Troops on Anti-Banditry Air operation in Niger State

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has assured the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, of the commitment of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to ensuring the safety and security of the people of Niger State, working in concert with sister Services and other security agencies.

The CAS made this known when he called on the Governor at Government House Minna as part of his Operational Visit to Niger State, which was aimed at assessing facilities emplaced at the Minna Airport to enable the effective conduct of the ongoing anti-banditry air operation code-named “Operation GAMA AIKI”. While, in Minna, the CAS also inspected facilities at the 013 Quick Response Group (013 QRG) NAF Base Minna, including the Base Medical Centre as well as the disused G-222 aircraft provided as a mock-up for anti-aircraft hijacking training, amongst others, where he mentioned that 2 sets of NAF personnel, who had earlier been trained in anti-aircraft hijacking, would soon be reassembled to replicate the training locally in Minna.

Speaking during the courtesy call, Air Marshal Abubakar disclosed that the NAF would continue to work alongside other security agencies to bring succour to troubled communities in Niger State. He stated that he had assessed facilities in the NAF Base, preparatory to the deployment of additional Regiment and Special Forces (SF) personnel to support operations in the State, whilst assuring that the air assets already deployed, including the helicopters and Alpha Jet aircraft, would continue to provide support to the Army and Police. The CAS equally disclosed that, as part of efforts of the Service to alleviate the plight of those affected by the activities of armed bandits, he had directed that a medical outreach be conducted to cater for the healthcare needs of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) at Kuta in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA). Air Marshal Abubakar ended his remarks by thanking the Government and people of Niger State for their continued support to the NAF.

In his response, Governor Bello, while noting that the State had gone through a very challenging period, expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements emplaced by the NAF. He therefore thanked the CAS for the tremendous support provided by the deployment of air assets to add value to the Internal Security Operations in the State, especially the most vulnerable areas bordering Zamfara, Kebbi and Kaduna States. He also commended the CAS for approving the conduct of the medical outreach to Kuta, more so that the NAF had carried out a similar outreach at Chukuba and Kwaki Communities of Shiroro LGA in June 2019.

The CAS, who was accompanied on the visit by the NAF Chief of Training and Operations NAF, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) James Gwani, the Air Secretary NAF, AVM Mahmoud Ahmed, and the Director of Logistics, AVM Ademola Durotoye, amongst other senior officers, had earlier received briefings from the Commander 013 QRG and the Air Component Commander Operation GAMA AIKI, which were held behind closed doors. The CAS and his team have since returned to Abuja.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
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NAF Trains Commanders on Leadership Responsibility

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday, 25 February 2020, graduated Participants of the first-ever Command Responsibility Course at the Air Force War College (AFWC), Makurdi.

The 4-week Course had 23 participants made up of Commanders and aspiring Commanders from a cross-section of NAF units and specialties. Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Administration (COA), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Mohammed Idris, charged the graduands to adopt a holistic approach at all levels of leadership to ensure effective tactical and operational command.

AVM Idris further stated that the performance of tactical and operational Commanders has emerged as an area requiring attention in the collective efforts towards engineering an Air Force that meets national aspirations. According to him, “A capable and effective Air Force must be commanded at all levels such that tactical outputs align with strategic objectives. We are the guardians of our national air domain”, he said. The COA also lauded the effort of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, for prioritizing the acquisition of a mix of aircraft platforms for the NAF, including the Super Tucano, Super Mushshak, Mi-35M, Agusta 109 Power and the Mi-171E.

In his welcome address, the Commandant AFWC, AVM Charles Oghomwen, stated that the curriculum for the 4-week Course, being the first of its kind, was designed to deconstruct for the Participants, the essence of Command responsibilities. The curriculum captured such diverse Command-related subject areas as Leadership; Unit, Personnel and Financial Administration; Bass Defence; Civil-Military Cooperation and Air Power. Other subject areas covered include Military Disciplinary and Judicial Systems as well as Arms and Information Management, among others.

One of the highlights of the occasion was the presentation of certificates and Commanders’ Resource Bags, which contain digital collection of all the lectures delivered during the Course, to the graduating participants. The event was attended by the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Olusegun Philip; the Commandant Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Major General Peter Eromosele, as well as Commanders of co-located NAF Units in Makurdi.

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