Group Capt. John Ukeh, Commander, Base Services Group ( BSG ) of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Enugu, has called for more synergy among the various security agencies in the country to tackle the various security challenges.
Ukeh made the call after the NAF Second Quarter Route March in Enugu, which took place between Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Abakaliki Road on Saturday.
He noted that no single security agency or formation can effectively shoulder the security responsibility of the country.
“This route march as directed by the Chief of Air Staff ( CAS ), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, is meant to keep the troops ready and fit for deployment to combat and trouble zones.
“It will help to strengthen the health of NAF personnel and ensure that they are agile at all time.
“This exercise also promotes inter-agency relations as we have members of sister security agencies marching in unison with our personnel this morning.
“It is clear that no single agency or security formation can effectively tackle security challenges in the country.
“So, we needed to create avenue for greater and closer synergy among all security agencies,’’ Ukeh said.
The commander, however, urged the troops to be dedicated to their duties and bring innovative ideas meant to facilitate the mandate of the Chief of Air Staff and NAF in general.
Speaking, Mr Cyriacus Enechukwu, Area Commander, Police Area Command in Enugu, lauded the NAF for keeping to its tradition of quarterly route marches and involve sister security agencies.
“It is heartwarming that security agencies are working together to provide solutions to security challenges; and this will definite produce better results,’’ Enechukwu said.
Mr Agu Justin of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Command, Enugu and Mr Chukwuemeka Ochi of Nigeria Immigration Service, Enugu joined in thanking the NAF for putting up a “well-organised and well-attended’’ route march.
“This gesture of carrying everybody along will help security agencies understand one another and improve the overall security of Enugu State and by extension the country,’’ they said.
The newsmen reports that personnel from four formations within NAF in Enugu took part in the route march, which covered 10 km.
The formations included: Headquarters Ground Training Command, 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group, personnel from NAF Comprehensive School, Agbani and personnel of Base Services Group.
The Nigerian Air Force is restructuring to effectively deliver on its responsibilities to the nation, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique, has said.
Sadique made the remark on Friday while celebrating Eid El-Kabir with officers and men of the Air Component of Operation “Lafiya Dole” in Yola Air force base.
He said that with the restructuring, the NAF would be better placed and equipped to deliver on its responsibilities.
“We are restructuring and that’s why we have two more commands; Special Operations Command and Ground Training Command.
“Very soon in all our units no technician will go for guard duty.
“We are building capacity in terms of having the required number of Special Forces so that those trained as special force will take over the defence of the base so that technicians concentrate on maintenance of aircraft.
“Right now we are training 450 special forces in Kaduna in phases,” he said.
The CAS said that with the ongoing training and retraining of Air force personnel to meet current challenges, the era when flying officers and lieutenants learn how to fly would soon be over.
He said: “we will continue to build the capacity of our instructors and also ensure that we have sufficient air plane to conduct the primary flying training.
“This will enable every student pilot that is admitted into the School complete his or her training as a cadet like we used to have in the 80’s.
“We are also building capacity in terms of tactical training for fighter pilots.
“I have just been informed that the 2nd batch of pilots going to fly with the Egyptian Air Force will be leaving very soon.”
Sadique, who expressed satisfaction with the performance of his men in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents, urged them to redouble their efforts.
He said that while the terrain constituted challenges to other sister agencies, it should not be so in the deployment of air power.
The Commanding Officer, Tactical Air Command, AVM M.A. Idris, Head of Training, AVM A. Balogun and Air Commodore Abdullahi Kassim, Commander, NAF Yola Base, lauded the CAS for his commitment to professionalism and the welfare of officers and men.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it will test its personnel endurance and help them retain physical and mental fitness as the second edition of the Inter Command Combat Sports Competition begins in Jos. Assistant Editor, Seun Akioye reports
The men who stood on the track lane for the 400 meters combat relay competition wore rugged and fierce countenance. As if to further intimidate the opponents, some of them had painted a part of their faces with black and blue ink adding a formidable trace to their outlines.
It will not be an ordinary race both in appearance and significance, the men who were dressed for battle carried their rifles in one hand and their battle gears on their back. The race was also the first event in the Nigerian Air Force Inter Command Combat competition which is holding in the serene city of Jos, Plateau state.
Aptly tagged “Jos 2017,” the second edition of the NAF combat sports competition was a great improvement over the first edition in Kaduna state. Also, an additional Command will be joining the competing teams this year, bringing the total to six namely: NAF Headquarters (NAF HQ), Tactical Air Command (TAC), Mobility Command (MC), Training Command (TC), Logistics Command, (LC) and the new entrant, Special Operations Command (SOC).
The CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Ambassador Sheni
The choice of Jos was instructive; the city hosts some of the most important logistics in the Air Force, it also hosts the NAF Military School and the weather is perfect for the competition. This year, the contingent would compete in eight sports including Boxing, Combat Swimming, Combat relay, Taekwondo, Shooting, Judo, Obstacle Crossing and Tug-of-war.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar did not mince his words on what outcomes he expected from the events. “By organising this second edition of the competition, it is my hope that our personnel would continue to maintain a high level of physical fitness. This aspiration no doubt is in tandem with my yearning and aspiration to re-position the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives,” he said.
The CAS emphasised the importance of physical and mental fitness to the efficient discharge of the military thus: “Maintaining a high level of combat and physical fitness would no doubt help our personnel pawn: to discharge this constitutional responsibility optimally when called to do so.
“Physical fitness remains the cornerstone of military combat readiness, it is in this light that the Nigerian Air Force introduced 10km walk jog, mute match exercise and recently combat sports competition which involved non-contact and contact events.
“The contact events like Boxing, Judo and Taekwondo keep the personnel in top physical form to enable them to carry out their responsibilities effectively. It is also the basis for good health and physical well-being. While the non-contact events such as shooting and obstacle crossing boost their skills of marksmanship as well as stamina and endurance so as to enable them to carry out their professional tasks effectively.
Helicopter evacuation of wounded soldiers
“It must be stated that even with acquired modem weapon and the continued effort to reactivate our assets we are not unaware of the fact that the Service needs personnel that are physically and mentally prepared to make the difference in any conflict. Similarly, Service members who are physically fit can endure tough conditions, hard work and stress more readily than those who are not. To this end, NAF has provided Gymnasia and physical fitness facilities in most units for the use of personnel and their families. I encourage all to take full advantage of these facilities, he said.
A colourful opening ceremony
The opening ceremony witnessed a spectacular representation not only for the contingent but also in the high profile personalities. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin was represented by Major General A.A Salihu, other service chiefs also sent representations while the “son of the soil” and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Danjuma Sheni represented the Minister of Defence.
Also, governors of Kaduna and Bauchi state sent their representations while the Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Jeremiah Useni stood in for the chairman.
The Former governor of Plateau state, Jonah Jang and a former CAS, Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep as well as the Plateau state Executive were also in attendance. The Governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong came in impressively dressed in a camouflage.
The contingent to the competition matched according to their commands, but not least impressive are the teams competing for the CAS special awards. The march past was spectacular, with the contingent displaying discipline and technical accuracy. After one round, they broke into a run which is to “intimidate the enemy in battle.”
But for all the spectacular display of the contingent, the star of the opening ceremony was Governor Lalong. Looking impressive in his military camouflage, he expertly took the salute from the marchers and parade commander to the admiration of the officers and civilians.
March past by the contingent
“I feel like a retired military officer,” Lalong said after another wave of applause had died down. “The last time I wore a uniform was during my National Youth Service Corps, NYSC days, but today when I wore this, I wish I am a retired military officer.”
The governor also appreciated the NAF for bringing the competition to his state, he affirmed that in spite of challenges, the NAF is battle ready to deal with any case of security threat and sees the event in Jos as one of the dividends of peace.
“It is one of the advantages peace has brought to us, this is why they are able to bring this competition here, we want to appeal to the NAF to continue to bring it here every year, the state government will support with logistics towards the cost of the events. We want the competition to encourage people that sports is not something you joke with,” the governor said.
Another spectacular performance of the opening event was the demonstration of the NAF medical evacuation procedures in battle. A team of nine special operations personnel were under attack, some of them fell. A rescue team was called in and a medical team also arrived. The casualties were arranged in order of priority and soon a NAF 575 helicopter arrived in the horizon to take the wounded to the hospital and convey the remains of the dead.
It was a highly technical operation which was conducted in minutes to show the NAF preparedness and capacity in the event of a medical evacuation in hostile territory.
The first event of the Combat sports lived up to expectation, the runners kicked up dust while exchanging their rifles in place of batons. At the end, Training Command was winners with a time of 50 seconds, NAF HQ came a close second with 52 seconds on the clock, TAC was not far behind with 55 seconds time-lapse.
The winners were decorated by the CAS and Governor Lalong with medals, as the competition continues, it remains to be seen if TC can maintain dominance it has established early in the competition.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar has debunked claims that Nigerian soldiers fled Boko Haram terrorists repelled attack in Borno State.
BBC Africa had reported that Nigerian soldiers fled the fierce attack from the terrorists who carried sophisticated weapons on Monday.
But Abubakar, who was in Lagos to inaugurate five projects completed by the Logistics Command including the installation of executive seats on the C-130 aircraft, insisted that the military has made substantial progress in the war.
This is just as he disclosed that the AirForce was to take delivery of more platforms acquired following government’s approval.
The AirForce Chief stated that the military was at the tail end of the operation in the northeast, adding that the insurgents can no longer move freely the way they used to in 2014 and early last year.
He said: “Compare the situation in 2014 or the beginning of 2015 and today. You will agree with me that there is a world of difference.
“Then, Boko Haram was moving in convoys of 15 to 20 vehicles from one community to the other. Such a thing is not happening again today.
“I really do not want to comment on what happened on Monday because I don’t have details. But generally, I can tell you that we are making substantial progress in dealing with this problem. We are at the tail end of the northeast operations.”
Abubakar also explained that the night training which commenced in Lagos on Monday night was a routine exercise.
“Training is a continuous process for every AirForce. From time to time, we have programmes we undertake to ensure our officers and men are in the best of shapes to be able to deal with security challenges. It is just a routine training,” he said.
Commending the Logistics Command for doing an excellent job, Abubakar said he was in Lagos to access infrastructure and ensure things were going well.
“Lagos is logistics base of the Air Force. No matter how excellent an operational plan is, if it is not backed by logistics, you will run into difficulties. Came to access situation on ground and infrastructure and ensure things are going well. I am happy with what am seeing in the units. Logistics Command is doing an excellent job,” said Abubakar.
While inaugurating the drainage and primary school classrooms at the 105 Communication Depot in Shasha, Abubakar said flood has always been a recurring decimal and a major problem confronting the base since its establishment.
“When it rains, especially at the peak of the rainy seasons, the roads within the depot are impassible. We also lost our fence severally in the past as a result of flood.
“I have been informed that control of flood is also a problem in the neighbouring Oba Ketu Community, which has led to avoidable loss of life and property. This is why we embarked on this project, to extend the drainage from outside our fence to the point where the flood will flow harmlessly into the central carnal.
Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Mohammed noted that the projects would motivate the personnel to continuously put in their best for the attainment of the Force’ objectives.
“For Instance, the avionics overhaul centre is expected to reinforce our culture of self – reliance and prudent management of resources in conformity with one of the key drivers of the CAS’ vision.
“During the installation of the test benches of the Overhaul Centre, some of the C-130H aircraft rotables were repaired. They include Altitude Direction Indicator, Autopilot Amplifier and ATC Transponder. This is a clear indication that the dividend derivable from the project is enormous,” he said.
Also inaugurated were the rehabilitated water system and reconstructed 70 septic tanks at the Sam Ethnam Base, as well as re-roofing of vehicle shades and reactivation of Jet-A1 tankers at 407 Equipment Supply Depot.
