By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has restated the unflinching commitment of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) leadership to the welfare of officers and men of the Service.
NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunke Daramola in a press statement, quoted the CAS as saying that “the human being is perhaps the most critical success factor in any human endeavour. Accordingly, the NAF will continue to give priority attention to all issues relating to the welfare of personnel and their families”.
The statement said Abubakar disclosed this on Saturday while on a one-day operational visit to inspect ongoing NAF welfare-enhancement projects in Lagos.
“The projects inspected include the ongoing re-construction/re-modeling of 5 blocks of 36 single-bedroom flats for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and drainage works at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja as well as the construction of a block of 24 x single-bedroom flats for NCOs at the NAF Legico Barracks in Victoria Island. The CAS also inspected C-130H aircraft (NAF 913), which recently underwent a successful Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) at the 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot (631 ACMD) Ikeja executed by a Team of Pakistan Air Force and NAF Engineers and Technicians.
“Speaking after inspecting the projects, the CAS, while expressing satisfaction with the progress of work, reiterated his gratitude to the Federal Government, under the leadership President Muhammadu Buhari, for the enabling environment that had empowered the Service to thrive. Air Marshal Abubakar also appreciated the National Assembly, especially the Chairmen and Members of the Senate and House Committees of the Air Force, for their continued support to ensure funds were appropriated for the various projects.
“He said this had enabled the Service to construct new office and residential accommodations as well as renovate existing ones to meet the needs of the Service in its units across the country. This in turn ensured a well-motivated force that has continued to carry out its constitutional roles effectively and efficiently, as evidenced by the recent successes recorded in the Northeast under the auspices of Operations RATTLE SNAKE 1 and 2. He said the Service, buoyed by this support, would continue to work tirelessly, in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies, to ensure that Nigeria and Nigerians are protected.
He said the CAS accompanied on the visit by Branch Chiefs and Directors from Headquarters NAF, was received upon arrival in Lagos by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command (LC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Lawal Alao, as well as the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Oshodi, AVM Kingsley Lar, along with Commanders and other senior officers from co-located units in Lagos area.
