By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, have solicited the support of the House of Representative Committee on Air Force in tackling the various challenges facing the Service.
He made the plea when members of the committee led by the Chairman, Honourable Kabiru Alhassan Rurum visited him at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday.
According to the CAS “While terrorists’ activities in the Northeast and Northwest Nigeria have declined, we have in recent times witnessed an escalation in the rate and frequency of kidnappings and hostage-taking by these same criminals in the region. The recent coordinated spade of kidnappings of over 200 school children in Kaduna, 15 students in Sokoto and several others in Borno States are clear pointers to this fact.
Speaking further, the CAS noted that in the southeast and south-south region, the threats posed by secessionists and oil thieves, though on the decline, have also been a source of concern. These situations, he further stated, have been exacerbated as more Nigerians slip into poverty, occasioned by lack of jobs amid high cost of living, causing some to turn to crime.
The CAS noted that NAF has continued to embark on a wide range of intensive air operations, including Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance, Air Interdiction and Armed Reconnaissance across operational theatres in the country, with varying degree of successes.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support as evident in the recent acquisition and induction of various platforms with the most recent being the induction of 2 x T-129 ATAK Helicopters.
Air Marshal Abubakar also used the opportunity of the visit to reel out some pressing challenges militating against NAF’s effectiveness, one of which is the astronomic rise in fuel prices and the introduction of surcharges.
According to him, “Currently, the situation is worsening, as the cost of Jet A-1 fluctuate at almost #1,200 per litre as against the budgeted #360 per litre. We are soliciting that the NAF be permitted to independently commence the importation of Jet A-1 fuel to sustain our ongoing air operations.”
Other challenges enumerated by the CAS include the need to enhance NAF’s tactical airlift capability to support both land and maritime forces in various theatres of operations as well as disaster relief efforts in remote areas, the need for an air operations command and control infrastructure as well as the need for an enhanced Air Defence and Airspace Surveillance capabilities, among others.
Speaking, Honourable Rurum noted that the Committee stands as a beacon of support and intervention as matters concerning budget allocation and implementation, policy amendments, public perception, transparency and community engagement will be brought to the forefront for discussion, understanding and possible legislative action.
“Through an open channel of communication and collaboration as well as understanding the current status and challenges faced by the Service, we can collectively explore avenues to strengthen NAF’s operational capacity.”
The Committee Chairman was accompanied by the Deputy Chairman, Honourable Rufus Ojuawo, representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1 as well as 18 other honourable members.
