By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
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.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola in a statement on Wednesday said this is the outcome of a meeting between the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubarkar and a delegation of NIQS led by their President, Quantity Surveyor (QS) M. Abba Tor at Headquarters NAF, Abuja.
The statement said the CAS assured that 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.”
