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Tag: Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar

  • NAF chief calls for alternative sources of funds for armed forces

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has called for alternative sources of funding to enable the armed forces meet training and operational needs.

    Abubakar made the call in Abuja on Monday while speaking to newsmen after budget defence session with the House of Representatives committee on Air Force.

    He said that it was necessary to look beyond the budget by seeking fund through alternative sources.

    “We appreciate the support of the national assembly, but there is need to look beyond the annual budget, the Air Force is a very expensive institution that requires a lot of resources to function.

    “We are working to ensure that we get what is required in terms of platforms, capabilities and manpower so that we can make Nigeria a more secured country,” he said.

    He said it was not possible for any institution to receive what was exactly proposed in the budget, saying, “this is the reason we call for alternative sources of funding”

    Read also: Flogging of suspected bandits unacceptable – NAF

    “I have said that the air force is expensive to maintain, so we cannot depend on the budget alone, ” he said.

    He commended the federal government for the support given to the armed forces, saying that such had aided them to go into power protection of the air access.

    “So this is the reason we have the special forces training that’s going on, very soon, we will have sufficient capacity to be able to support other sister agencies in conducting of limited ground operations,” he said.

    Abubakar said that alternative funding for the air force could be generated through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.

    He said that percentage interests from financial institutions and levies on certain charges on mobile phone users are possible avenues to generate funds.

    “You have to be safe first before you can think of enjoying your mobile phone, so whatever a subscriber gives to the mobile phone company can have certain percentage deducted to fund the armed forces.

    “These resources can be pushed to equipment manufacturers and we just get the aircraft, that all we are interested in,” he said.

    Speaking on the use drone technologies to minimize the cost of flying fighter jets, he reiterated the expensive nature of keeping Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the air.

    “They are very expensive, we say they are unmanned, the only difference is that you don’t have anybody inside flying.

    “But you have about 15 people on ground managing just one UAV,  they are very expensive, but we will get there,” he said.

    He said the air force was building capacity of its officers to conduct research and development, because it could not continue to depend on others. (NAN)

  • Operate within the law, Acting CJN admonishes military

    The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed on Tuesday said the military remains a critical institution for the success of any democratic government.

    He stated Nigeria would continue to appreciate its military for the sacrifices it made to keep the country united.

    Delivering a keynote address at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja, during the opening of the 2019 Edition of the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) Retreat for NAF Officers, Justice Mohammed said the military deserves public support for its efforts in supporting democratic institutions during elections and for maintaining peace and order during internal operations.

    He however cautioned that it was imperative for the military to operate within the ambit of the law while going about its kinetic and non-kinetic operations to avoid criticism within and outside the country.

    Mohammed, who lauded the NAF for supporting INEC to airlift its personnel and electoral materials across the country during the 2019 general elections, noted that such efforts as well as NAF medical outreaches and provision of succour to flood victims cannot go unappreciated.

    READ ALSO: Don’t betray your oath, Acting CJN tells judges on election tribunals

    According to him: “More recently your role in moving logistics and electoral personnel did not also go unnoticed. Such Support no doubt increases public support which is key to the success of ongoing counter insurgency operations all over the country.

    “I want to reiterate that considering the asymmetric nature of the type of war we now engage in, the military cannot function without public support.

    “If we juxtapose this with the increasing focus and criticism of military operations at both local and international levels, the needs to act within the laws during military operations therefore become undeniably imperative.”

    Chief of the Air Staff, (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, dismissed as untrue insinuations NAF fighter Pilots dropped bombs selectively during its air operations thereby commiting infractions against citizens and violating their rights.

    Air Marshal Abubakar said the retreat was organised to bring stakeholders together in a way that they would interact with NAF Legal Officers, and fighter pilots to enhance their operations for better delivery of service.

    The CAS said: ” The NAF relies on our Legal Services Directorate in navigating the legal waters which sometimes become turbulent as a consequence of the strict requirements for the military to adhere to LOAC.

      “It is no longer news that several reports by Non-Governmental Organisations have alleged grave violations of international laws and human rights by the Nigerian military.

    “Some people have gone to the ridiculous extent of accusing NAF fighter pilots flying at 300km per hour of selectively attacking farmers as targets while sparing herdsmen in Numan.

    “Others have alleged that bombs were dropped in villages, killing civilians and burning thatched roofs of their homes but sparing mud structures of the houses.

    “Unfortunately, these mostly unverified allegations have overtime portrayed the military in bad light and have, as well, impacted negatively on our fight against insurgency.

    “While most of the allegations are untrue, they nevertheless caused mistrust between the military and civil populace, while also affecting relations between Nigeria and some of its allies.

    “It is for this reason that we continue to reiterate the importance of adhering to LOAC during military operations.”

  • NAF deploys surveillance aircraft for election monitoring

    The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) is deploying surveillance aircraft to potential flashpoints across the country as part of efforts to secure lives and property during general elections commencing tomorrow with the presidential and national assembly polls.

    The surveillance aircraft are besides those assigned for support operations during the elections, according to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

    Abubakar,at a meeting with Principal Staff Officers and Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) of the six NAF Field Commands in Abuja,said the surveillance aircraft would provide real-time imagery intelligence that would be streamed live to the HQ NAF Situation Room as well as Command Situation/Operations Rooms across the country.

    He stressed the need for all officers and men to remain apolitical in the course of their duties, and resist any entreaty by individuals who are more concerned about their personal interests than the nation’s interests.

    Read Also: NAF jet destroys insurgents’ camp in Borno

    He also urged them to work very closely with other security agencies to ensure that no individual or group of individuals undermine the electoral process.

    He warned that Commanders would be held personally responsible for any lapses.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Air Force,Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said the force is working in conjunction with the Police and other security agencies to “ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians before, during and after the elections.”

  • Air Force deploys massive air assets over Zamfara killings

    The Nigerian Air Force on Thursday said arrangements have been concluded for massive deployment of aircraft and other platforms to Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina states to end the spate of bandit attacks, cattle rustlings and other criminal activities in the Northwest region.

    The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this during on-the-spot assessments of the troubled areas.

    He said the security situation in the region require fashioning a new response strategy that would restore peace and orderliness within the shortest period.

    He said 18 new aircraft have been acquired by the present leadership to respond to the security challenges across the country.

    In the next 16 months, he stated the NAF expect another set of 18 new ones.

    He added that 13 additional aircraft have been rehabilitated and made serviceable for operations.

    Abubakar, who also visited the governors of the three states, commended them for their support for the Armed Forces in tackling security challenges.

    He noted the security agencies however need intelligence information from the locals to track down the bandits and other criminals within the area.

    According to a statement by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the Air Chief also inspected the Sultan Abubakar III Airport in Sokoto and other platforms upon which to launch operations against the bandits.”

    Daramola quoted the Air Force Chief as saying that he was in the zone to assess the situation with a view to evolving strategies and emplacing more effective structures and air assets in support of the operations to deal with the threat.

    He also added Abubakar had visited HQ ATF OPDM which also served as the Air Component of Operation Sharan Daji (OPSD) and would also visit the NAF 119 Forward Operating Base (119 FOB) Sokoto with a view to upgrading facilities to enable the conduct of air operations from Sokoto, for enhanced NAF response capability in dealing more decisive blows on the armed bandits

    The governors expressed appreciation for the visit, noting security agencies had been doing their best to curtail the activities of the armed bandits in the region, especially since the commencement of OPDM and the recent Operation 777 under OPSD.

    According to them, however, it appeared the armed bandits were reacting to the tremendous successes of the operations by launching a fresh wave of attacks against innocent civilians, regretting that as a result, killings and kidnappings had become daily affairs.

  • How NAF saved ground troops from water starvation in Alagarno – Abubakar

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday explained how ground forces in the fight against Boko Haram cut off behind enemy lines were saved from water starvation at Alagarno, Borno State, last year.

    Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said NAF deployed helicopters to supply water to the trapped troops.

    Abubakar spoke at the Logistics Command’s simulation of air lifting and supply of relief materials held at the 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot (ACMD), Ikeja, Lagos.

    Codenamed Exercise OMO OLOJA, the simulation, which was flagged off by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, was designed to train the personnel of the Logistics Command in the conduct of medium scale airlift operations.

    Abubakar said: “The critical importance of air logistics support was amply demonstrated in 2017 when the Nigerian Air Force contained the development of an ugly situation in Alagarno through supply of drinking water by helicopters to ground troops, who had been cut off behind enemy lines.

    “From the foregoing, it’s clear that the best planned operations could fail without logistics support and hence the need to use Logistics Command from time to time to determine the effectiveness of our logistics support arrangements in support of NAF operations.”

    As an instrument of national power, he said the NAF had been contributing its quota to the counter insurgency campaign through the projection of air power and deployment of Special Forces in theatre of operations.

     

     

  • Air Force joins battle against herdsmen

    Air Force joins battle against herdsmen

    The Air Force will join the military operations against killer-herdsmen and militia in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said yesterday.

    He said the intervention of the NAF would be through the establishment of Forward Operational Base (FOB) in Taraba state and Quick Response Wing along Benue and Nasarawa axis.

    A statement signed by Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the Air Chief said the developments were part of an elaborate efforts to address the security challenges.

    The statement reads: “Air Marshal Abubakar also spoke on the current and likely threats as well as contingencies from the perspective of air operations. Some of the initiatives included but are not limited to the establishment of new commands and some units, improvement in human capacity development, improved aircraft serviceability and logistics support as well as enhanced personnel welfare.”

  • Air Force tackles herdsmen/farmers clashes in Taraba, Benue, others

    Air Force tackles herdsmen/farmers clashes in Taraba, Benue, others

    The Nigerian Air Force Thursday said it would be involved in the operations in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa to tackle incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

    The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar made the disclosure in Abuja at a lecture to participants of Course 26 of the National Defence College, (NDC).

    He explained that the intervention of the NAF would be through the establishment of Forward Operational Base (FOB) in Taraba state and Quick Rsponse Wing along Benue and Nasarawa axis.

    In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, the Air Chief said the developments were part of elaborate efforts to address the security challenges facing the country.

    The statement reads: “The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Thursday disclosed plans by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to establish a Forward Operational Base (FOB) in Taraba State, as part of plans to further tackle the incessant herdsmen-farmers clash in the country.

    “The CAS, who disclosed the plans while delivering a lecture to participants of National Defence College (NDC) Course 26 in Abuja, also announced plans to establish a Quick Response Wing along the Benue-Nassarawa Axis.

    “The title of the lecture, which lasted one hour, was ‘The Nigerian Air Force – Challenges and Future Perspectives’. Participants of the Course are drawn from senior officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and those of sister African countries, senior officials of other security agencies in Nigeria as well as those of Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    “The lecture afforded the CAS to share thoughts with the participants on how the National Defence Policy prescribes that the NAF should be employed, out of which the mission statement of the NAF was coined.

    “Air Marshal Abubakar also spoke on the current and likely threats as well as contingencies from the perspective of air operations. He then elucidated on his vision for the NAF while also highlighting current efforts at actualizing it.

    “Some of the initiatives included but are not limited to the establishment of new commands and some units, improvement in human capacity development, improved aircraft serviceability and logistics support as well as enhanced personnel welfare.

    “He also spoke about the efforts being made in the area of research and development towards improved self-sufficiency, as a result of which the NAF is currently making great savings in foreign exchange.

    “Thereafter, he discussed the current NAF Force structure, doctrine, current capabilities and equipment holding in response to threats alongside the NAF’s strategic plan before looking at NAF future perspectives.

    “The CAS equally examined the challenges and constraints to the NAF’s air power effectiveness before concluding the lecture by discussing the strategies to countering the challenges enumerated. The lecture was followed by a stimulating interactive session.

    “In his closing remarks, the Commandant of NDC, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, declared that “You cannot win any war today without an effective and virile Air Force”.

    “He then added that there was no doubt that the current NAF leadership is taking a lot of laudable and unprecedented steps, especially in the area of technological development, in a bid to reposition the NAF for greatness.

    “He particularly cited the recent feats by the NAF in locally designing and producing an operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, among many other breakthroughs in the area of research and development. He then seized the opportunity to congratulate the CAS on the recent passage of the bill establishing the Air Force Institute of Technology Kaduna, which he believed would further enhance technological growth in the NAF.

    “It is recalled that the NAF had also earlier announced plans to establish FOBs in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, as part of its commitment to combatting emerging security challenges in those parts of the country”.

  • Nigeria’s air assets not enough to fight insurgency – NAF chief

    Nigeria’s air assets not enough to fight insurgency – NAF chief

    The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said on Wednesday that Nigeria’s air assets are not enough to fight insurgency and protect the country’s territorial integrity.

    He said the Nigerian Air Force is investing heavily in capacity building and training of its officers and men to enable the force discharge its responsibility effectively and efficiently.

    He said the human capacity development efforts of the present leadership of the Air Force have greatly enhanced force projection capability not only within Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast, but beyond the shores of the country.

    Air Marshal Abubakar stated these at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja, during the decoration with new wings, 11 officers who had just completed their pilot training programmes in South Africa.

    He said: “Section 217 Sub Section 2b of the 1999 Constitution as amended assigned the role of protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and integrity by air on the Nigerian Air Force.

    “To discharge this responsibility, Nigerian Air Force relies on air assets fighter aircraft, helicopter gunships and other platforms to discharge this responsibility. Air assets alone however without adequately trained pilots cannot enable Nigerian Air Force to effectively discharge this Constitutional responsibility.

    “It is against this background that NAF embarked on human capacity development in all NAF Specialties.

    “We are exceedingly delighted to have before us today the products of this effort. We are expecting additional 10 pilots from International Aviation College in Ilorin and four pilots from South Africa to complete their training in February 2018.

    “By end of February therefore, the NAF would have successfully winged 72 pilots. Furthermore, there are an additional 74 pilots that are training to qualify for awards of NAF wings.

    “Out of this number 64 are training in Nigeria while the remaining 10 are training outside Nigeria. In the area of Instructor Pilot Training, the NAF has trained 23 Instructor Pilots in the last two years while seven are currently undergoing training abroad with three in United States and four in Jordan.

    “Our training efforts in Kaduna have been greatly enhanced with the acquisition of 10 Supermushshak trainer aircraft.

    “Also in Kano, all hands are on deck to increase the number of Serviceable L-39ZA aircraft for basic fighter training. Due to increase in number of Serviceable A-Jets, the NAF has commenced advanced fighter training locally in Nigeria. These achievements will no doubt save the nation scarce resources required to train outside.”

     

  • NAF chief tasks new commanders on Boko Haram

    NAF chief tasks new commanders on Boko Haram

    The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said on Wednesday the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is targeting victory over the Boko Haram insurgents and the Niger Delta militants.

    He said victory over the terrorists and militants has become imperative for the armed forces in order to ensure that the labour of Nigeria’s past heroes are not in vain.

    Abubakar further tasked the newly posted field commanders to ensure that they keep the country peaceful and secured in the face of the current security challenges in the country.

    The NAF chief made the remarks at the CAS Awards Ceremony and Workshop for newly posted Field Commanders at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja.

    He said: “We are living in extraordinary times with myriads of problems threatening to shake the foundation laid by the founding fathers of this great nation and by extension, threatening to erode the labour of our heroes past.”

    “As Chief of the Air Staff, I have had the privilege of commanding men and women who showed courage in the face of terror, exhibited strength where others saw fear and applied ingenuity where others perceived impossibility.

    “Most importantly, I have enjoyed the honour and rare privilege of serving under the selfless, visionary and resilient leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “This combination of factors imbued us with the courage needed to win at all fronts as a force; be it against Boko Haram terrorism in the North East or militancy in the South -south or the myriads of other security challenges nationwide.”

     

  • Air force trains 50 specialty personnel at NICT

    Air force trains 50 specialty personnel at NICT

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its currently training its Works Specialty personnel at National Institute of Construction Technology (NICT), Uromi, Edo.

    Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Adesanya stated that 50 NAF personnel were participating in the training programme which would last four months.

    He added that the personnel were undergoing training in specialised fields such as plumbing and pipefitting, power and domestic electrical engineering, surveying, as well as masonry.

    He noted that “the training programme is an initiative of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who had continued to place emphasis on capacity building, being prerequisite for optimum service delivery.

    Read Also: NAF procures five Super Mushshak Aircraft to fight Boko Haram

    “It is noteworthy that the ongoing training of the works personnel marks the first time NAF will conduct proper basic training for airmen/airwomen of the Works Specialty.

    “In the past, some of the personnel deployed to the Works Specialty were qualified tradesmen, while many required basic training in specialised fields.”

    Adesanya noted that most works personnel had not been receiving the required formal training and hence relied on on-the-job training to function in the service.

    Consequently, the desired level of professionalism to meet the nation’s contemporary security challenges had been largely missing in NAF works personnel, he added.

    He explained that the training was designed to add value to the skill and knowledge already possessed by NAF works personnel, as way of enhancing service delivery.

    “In addition to facilitating smooth career progression for NAF works personnel, the expertise that the training at NICT provides would be handy in barracks maintenance.

    “With increased construction activities across NAF units, the services of well-trained artisans are needed for quality output, especially in the execution of direct labour projects,” he said.

    Adesanya said NAF planned to train a total of 200 works personnel at NICT, with the current set of 50 trainees forming the first batch.

    “On completion of the training of the first batch, another batch of 50 personnel is expected to train at the institute.

    “The training of NAF personnel at NICT is one of the numerous ways NAF is partnering with local institutions to enhance capacity building, with cost saving implications for the nation.”