By Adaeze Umunna
One of the factors noted previously by some observers in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency and other forms of crime is the absence of synergy by the different security agencies.
It was an open fact that they existed animosity between and among Nigeria’s security agencies and their unwillingness to share intelligence, thereby hampering effort at effectively combating the Boko Haram insurgency in the country’s North-east.
However, this animosity seem to be fading away as the present leadership of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is working on the same page to bring the country back on the road to peace and eventual economic recovery.
Therefore, it was a thing of joy on Tuesday as the National President, Nigerian Air force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA), Mrs Elizabeth Olubummi Amao led her members to put smiles on the face of widows of deceased personnel.
The occasion was part of activities to commemorate the 57th Anniversary Celebration of NAF.
The widows went home with different food items running into millions of naira.
Interestingly, widows of deceased Nigerian Army and Navy personnel benefitted from the largesse.
Though it has been a usual practice, this year’s donations to widows from sister Services came at a time the leadership of the AFN is working to restore the much needed synergy.
Indeed, this spirit of oneness is what is needed to strengthen efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria towards dealing with the security challenges in the country.
Earlier, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao had stated the intention of NAF and other sister Services to subordinate themselves to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor.
Amao had stated that this was desirable to bring the various security challenges to an end.
According to him, as it is obtainable in military organizations worldwide, the DHQ is responsible for the command and control of the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) which also means that all ongoing joint operations and Joint Task Forces are directly subordinated to the DHQ, and their commanders’ report directly to the CDS.
The CAS did not just speak, the NAF has gone ahead to show its willingness to collaborate with the other services to restore stability in the country.
To this end, the 57th Anniversary Celebration has as theme “Enhancing Nigerian Air Force Airpower Capabilities for Effective Joint Operations in Response to Contemporary National Security Challenges”
The NAF explained that the theme was carefully selected aimed at emphasising the renewed focus on cooperation and collaboration among other services in the continued protection of the nation’s territorial integrity against its enemies.
This is in tandem with the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao’s vision which is to enhance and sustain critical airpower capabilities required for joint force deployment in pursuit of national security imperatives.
As observed by the Commander, 063 NAF Hospital, Airforce Base, Abuja, Group Captain Muzzamil Mohammed, these interventions is one of the ways to reduce crime in the society.
Therefore Nigerians must commend the gesture of the Nigerian Air force which in no small measure will deal with the crisis on ground.
Adaeze Umunna, a security analyst writes from Abuja.
