Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has expressed the commitment of the federal government to reposition the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives.
Abubakar stated this on Monday, when he commissioned renovated and remodelled training facilities at the NAF School of Air Intelligence in Makurdi.
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He said the renovated facilities will ensure effective, efficient and timely training and employment of air personnel.
The CAS who also inspected the aircrafts at the hanger of the Tactical Air Command (TAC) of the NAF Base in Makurdi, said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the repairs of nine grounded F7-NI fighter aircrafts as part of its efforts to continue to protect the territorial integrity of the country.
He explained that the repairs was part of efforts of NAF to get back some of the grounded aircrafts into flying status.
“In Makurdi, the work is ongoing on nine F7-NI fighter aircrafts. Seven are going to be crated and taken out of Makurdi to China for maintenance and two would be done locally here,” said.
Abubakar explained further that the idea is to first ensure that NAF has the required platform serviceable and secondly, to build the capacity of its personnel.
“That is why the life extension programme which is an aspect of the maintenance job is done locally here in Makurdi. It’s similar to what we are doing in Kainji and Ikeja where we reactivated the C-130 aircraft.
“The 917 which is parked outside there is one of the two C-130 that were reactivated in Ikeja; the first time in the history of our service.”
He also disclosed that NAF is expecting an additional aircraft from Pakistan adding that the commissioned facilities would accommodate technicians and pilots who would be coming to support NAF operation for the first one year when the aircraft arrives.
“Just this morning, we also received information on the unmanned combat vehicle meant for Nigeria. It’s likely to leave from China to Nigeria today (Monday) and we have some of our personnel that are already training there.
“It clearly shows that all hands are on deck and we will continue to do everything humanly possible to ensure that our country is secured and our people can go about their businesses without difficulties,” he added.
