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Tag: Nigerian Air Force (NAF)

  • NAF offers free medicare in Lagos community

    NAF offers free medicare in Lagos community

    As part of activities to celebrate its 61st anniversary, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) at the weekend carried out free medical outreach for residents in Shasha, a Lagos suburb.

    Conducted by NAF’s 041 Communications Depot in Shasha on the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, over 500 residents of Oguntade and environs benefited from the screening and consultation as well as treatment and referrals

    Six individuals were identified for complementary surgeries, and treated mosquito nets were distributed free to nursing mothers.

    The Commanding Officer (CO) of the Medical Centre, 041 CIS Depot, Wing Commander Joseph Solomon, said: “We are conducting a free medical outreach that has been sponsored by the Chief of the Air Staff. The services available are free consultation, free medical treatment and selected surgeries for individuals that have Lipoma, Hernias and fibroids. We have gynaecologists that we have talked to, and they are ready to offer the free services. We intend to carry out between five and 10 surgical procedures. 

    “That’s what we are going to offer. Additionally, we are also going to offer health education on common illnesses because several individuals don’t actually have the knowledge of common diseases and that is one of the things that make the outcome very poor in our environment.

    “So, we are going to give that health education for people to be aware of the common diseases so that when they have symptoms they can present immediately to the hospital.’’

    Solomon said the message the NAF was passing through the outreach was that the military and civilians should continue living in harmony, adding that the service wanted the Nigerians to feel the human side of their Air Force.

    “Therefore, our people should feel free to access the care and also they should make sure that the spirit of cordial relationship between the military and the civil population continues,” he said.

    Appreciating the CAS for the gesture, members of the community noted that it was relieving for them to have access to doctors and other care providers at no cost to them, urging the service to continue the gesture more frequently.

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    They also thanked the Commander, 041 CIS Depot, Air Commodore S. M. Chindo, for fostering an environment of peaceful coexistence between the military and the civilian population.

    Speaking on behalf of the Baale of Oguntade, the Community Development association (CDA) Chairman, Alefa Olatoye Nurudeen, said: “We have been expecting something like this but for a very long time they have not been coming. Though the Base usually treats some of our people who can access their facility inside the compound, but we are glad that this time around, they came to the market square, and everyone is being attended to.

    “We’re very happy to see them and we welcome them. That’s why we’re all sitting.  I want to appeal to them that they should not just leave us after this one. They should try and connect more of us to their base for our people to have regular free health care.

    “This is because a lot of our people are peasant farmers, and they do not have the resources to go to the hospital.

    “The majority of us are not educated. We don’t even have enough money to go for medical treatment. So, if they can be assisting us after this outreach that our people will come to them and they will attend to us as Oguntade community, we will really appreciate that.’’

    An 84-year-old woman, Mrs. Rhoda Omodele said: “I have body pains. This is very good, I’m grateful, I have prayed for all of you to be successful and victorious over your enemies, God will keep you and your children.

    “I have hypertension and body pains, I cannot see clearly, my eyes are always blurry. My ears hurt because of my eyes. They used to give me drugs that I put in the ear and eyes, it worked, and I am happy because I know this one, they have given me will work well.”

    Another beneficiary, Mrs Idowu Ogunsade, 56, said: “I have been having the pains and usually go to the pharmacy for drugs. My husband is dead, and I do not have money to go to the hospital. So, I am grateful to the Air Force for checking me and giving me drugs that will help me.’’

  •  NAF gets new spokesman

     NAF gets new spokesman

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has approved the appointment of Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame as the new spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    Ejodame takes over from Air Vice Marshal Olusola, who was appointed into the position in October last year.

    The new NAF spokesman is a member of the 45th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Master’s degree in Transport and Logistics as well as a PhD in Information Systems and Management Studies from the University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.

    Air Commodore Ejodame has held several appointments in the NAF. He had served as Directing Staff at both the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, and the National Defence College, Abuja.

    He was also the Pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna, and the Director of Procurement at the same institution.

    His experience includes a diplomatic role as Nigeria’s Defence Adviser at the Nigeria High Commission in Malaysia, where he was concurrently accredited to 9 other countries, strengthening Nigeria’s defence ties across the region.

    Speaking at a brief handing over  at the NAF headquarters, the new NAF spokesperson called for the support of the media to be able to deliver on his mandate, and pledged to operate an open door policy.

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    He thanked the air chief for the trust to undertake the big task, pledging to give nothing short of his best.

    ”As I admire your commitment in the way you work, I solicit your support to work together, and by the grace of God, we will definitely come up with some impactful works,” he said.

    Earlier, the outgone spokesman, Akinboyewa thanked the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, for finding him worthy and fit to serve as NAF’s spokesman.

    He said that the CAS’s command philosophy, which is ”to transform the NAF into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the air power demands of national security in all operational environments”, had been instrumental in shaping the NAF’s strategic communication approach.

    He thanked members of the press for helping him to bring to the awareness of Nigerian people the gallant efforts of the NAF.

    ”I’m glad that I have made some new friends, and I look forward to continuing to engage with you in my new role as the Director of Civil Relations at Defence Headquarters,” he said.

  • Bullies in military uniforms

    Bullies in military uniforms

    Two separate attacks by military men on two different electricity distribution companies in Lagos State within one week spoke volumes about the lawlessness of the attackers. This is condemnable.

    On March 6, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel from the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Ikeja attacked the corporate headquarters of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) in Alausa, Lagos. They were reported to have been “loaded in military trucks, several OP-MESA vehicles, and others.”

    The attack followed the expiration of the NAF’s ultimatum to the company to restore their power supply which was disconnected because of a debt of N4billion. The company said it stopped supplying electricity to the base after failed efforts to make the debtors pay their debt.  A viral video showed “the attack, the height of vandalism, and the brutality that took place,” a report said.  The incident happened around 7:40 am.

    The NAF should pay up instead of employing bullying tactics. This is a clear case of abuse of power.  It is surprising that they allowed the debt to rise to the stated amount, and still believed they should continue to enjoy electricity supply without clearing the debt. 

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    On March 14, a similar incident happened when Nigerian Army personnel attacked the Badagry Injection Substation of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC). The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) said the “invasion,” at 1.00am,   involved “overzealous military personnel.” The union also said the attackers “abducted two members of our staff and took them to their Barracks at The Nigerian Army, 15th Field Engineers Regiment, Topo Town, Badagry, Lagos,” adding, “Their claim was poor electricity supply to their Barracks in the last week.” The abducted employees were said to have been tortured and brutalised before they were released at 4 am.

    The NUEE explained that “Eko Electricity Management had earlier given public notice to all customers, and proper information about the ongoing TCN Upgrade in Agbara was duly communicated to their commanding officer, Lt Col S. Lawan. Efforts were made to restore power to the barracks but the feeder went off due to excess load.”

    The violent reaction of the soldiers is inexcusable. It is possible that they were encouraged by the earlier violence of the NAF personnel who attacked IKEDC without consequences.

    The two incidents show the military in a bad light. The military authorities should be embarrassed.

  • Feat of engineering

    Feat of engineering

    •Nigerian Air Force deserves commendation

    It is commendable that Nigerian Air Force (NAF) engineers and technicians reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft, which had been grounded for 23 years. The plane, “with only 1,081 flight hours since new,” was originally designated ‘5N-MPS’ and operated by the former Ministry of Mines, Power, and Steel. It had been grounded at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, said in a statement. 

    The reactivation of the aircraft followed a presidential directive that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) should transfer “such grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation and possible reactivation,” he explained, adding that the NAF considered the task “a unique opportunity to restore a valuable national asset.” 

    According to him, the reactivation of the grounded aircraft, redesignated ‘NAF-039,’ was carried out between June and September 2024, and involved “a crack team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group, Kaduna.”  The work required “the application of advanced engineering techniques and adherence to stringent aviation standards,” and the accomplishment is a testimony to the NAF’s “growing technical expertise,” he noted. The spokesperson also said apart from “enhancing the NAF’s fleet,” the success of the project demonstrated its “resolve to achieve self-reliance in aviation maintenance for operational effectiveness.”

    The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, observed that the successful reactivation of the aircraft “is not just an operational gain; it is a statement of our capabilities and our commitment to self-reliance.”  He has been credited with providing the necessary support and conducive working environment for personnel to function effectively and achieve the force’s mission objectives, and solid commitment to ensuring quality aircraft maintenance in the NAF. His Command Philosophy is said to prioritise logistics support and strong maintenance culture.

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    Another noteworthy case demonstrating the engineering capacity of the NAF was in early 2024 when its engineers, for the first time, successfully conducted a 4800-hour Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) on a Dornier -228 (DO-228) aircraft. The 4800-hours inspection was the highest level of maintenance carried out on the DO-228 aircraft. This type of scheduled maintenance on the DO-228 aircraft, formerly performed by foreign Maintenance Repair Organisations (MROs), was completed at a significantly cheaper rate and with reduced aircraft downtime.

    In this case, the inspection of the aircraft, designated ‘NAF 031,’ began in May 2021. At a ceremony held to honour the engineers involved in the PDM, the Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Pius Oahimire, commended the Unit Commander, Air Vice Marshal Olanrewaju Oyename, who was reported saying, “This is history… This is the first PDM on a NAF aircraft conducted entirely by NAF personnel in the First Engineering Unit of the NAF at the Premier NAF Base in Kaduna.” He stressed the importance of further specialist training to boost the maintenance team’s capabilities.

    These accomplishments by the NAF show that with the appropriate resources and support its engineers can reach greater heights. It is unclear if there are other grounded government aircraft needing the NAF’s evaluation and possible reactivation. If there are, the authorities should waste no time in ensuring that they are handed over to the air force engineering group.  

    These feats of engineering in the cases of NAF-039 and NAF 031 are laudable and should inspire engineers in the army and navy, the other arms of the Nigerian military. Apart from the cost-saving value of the availability of local engineering competence to handle such technical challenges in the armed forces, the consequent non-reliance on foreign expertise is a plus for national self-esteem.     

  • NAF to use social activities to foster unity, boost personnel morale

    NAF to use social activities to foster unity, boost personnel morale

    The Commander of the 115 Special Operations Group at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Commodore Ali Idris, has said the service is planning to organise more social activities this year to strengthen unity among its personnel.

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    Ali said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the NAF’s 2024 Base Annual Socio-Cultural Activities (BASA) celebration in Port Harcourt.

    The commander expressed confidence that the social events would enhance camaraderie among its personnel and their families.

  • Air Force pharmacist wins awards

    Air Force pharmacist wins awards

    A consultant clinical pharmacist in Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore David Babalola, has won three honours at the 97th Annual National Conference of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

     Babalola won Biogenerics Integrity Award, Pfizer Excellence Award, and a Fellowship of PSN.

     He became the best overall among public sector hospital pharmacists in Nigeria to clinch the Biogenerics Integrity Award,  with a prize of N1,000,000.

     This award celebrates excellence in patient care, career achievements, innovations, training, research, professional service, philanthropy, and leadership in public hospitals.

     Babalola was also a winner of Pfizer Excellence Award, which recognises contributions in hospital and community pharmacy, with a N250,000 prize, a plaque, and certificate.

    Pfizer’s representatives gave him the award at the conference’s banquet at Flairmore Event Centre, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

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    Air Commodore Babalola becomes the first Armed Forces pharmacist to win a PSN-sponsored corporate award.

     Babalola lauded Biogenerics and Pfizer for their sponsorship, which, he said, fosters excellence in hospital pharmacy practice.

    He hailed Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal H.B. Abubakar, for creating an enabling environment for pharmacists in NAF and for approving implementation of Pharmacists Consultant Cadre.

    Adding to his achievements, Air Commodore Babalola was conferred with the Fellowship of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN), the highest honor awarded to pharmacists in Nigeria.

    This recognition, given for exemplary and meritorious service, cements his legacy as a trailblazer in the field.

     Air Commodore Babalola is the first pharmacist in the Nigerian Air Force to attain the rank of air commodore.

    With a career marked by numerous accolades, his recent achievements underscore his dedication to advancing pharmacy practice in Nigeria.

     The investiture for his FPSN honor is scheduled for early next year, setting the stage for celebration of this distinguished military pharmacist.

  • Navy band partners MUSON, others for improved musicals

    PLANS are underway for the Nigerian Navy (NN) Directorate of Music to partner foreign counterparts, the Music Society of Nigeria (MUSON) centre, and key universities to upscale its band performances.

    The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, stated this at the annual NN Band Conference at the Nigerian Navy School of Music (NNSM) in Ota, Ogun State.

    Ibas, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Stanford Enoch, said the navy was poised to ensure originality of musical contents with a rich blend of tunes from various Nigerian cultures.

    The conference, with the theme: Repositioning the Nigerian Navy Band for Global Best Musical Performances, was attended by some Heads of Music Departments (HODs) from various universities, representatives of the Army, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other paramilitary agencies.

    The CNS said the Navy Music Directorate had taken enormous steps to indigenise its band and rearrange many of the foreign tunes to local content.

    “However, there are observed gaps in terms of equipment, training and further exposure in order to upscale Navy’s musical performance and regain its enviable position, like the days it was the toast of the Super Eagles’ supporters club.

    “This will require deliberate efforts. Achieving global best performances would require lots of efforts. It would entail identifying and addressing intrinsic and extrinsic factors in the tripod of Navy’s musical processes, namely Directorate of Music, the NNSM and the Navy Band.

    “Efforts are ongoing at the Naval headquarters (NHQ) to address identified challenges, including re-equipping the Navy’s band as well as forging strategic partnerships with some credible musical bodies and organisations, like the MUSON Centre, music departments of key higher institutions and foreign military bands.

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    “Commencement of in-country training and construction of ‘Steel Pan Band at the NNSM, Ota, is also part of NHQ’s efforts to ensure global outlook for the NN band,” he said.

    The Acting Director of Music Commander Olalekan Abiodun said the Navy’s band has become a reputable department due to the foundation laid during its formative years, adding that it has expanded to include dance and steel band units.

    He said: “It is worthy of note that the steel pan instrument, which is mostly imported from Trinidad and Tobago, is presently manufactured locally at the NNSM, Ota. Special thanks go to the CNS, who approved and sent band personnel for steel pan manufacturing courses at Trinidad and Tobago some years ago.

    “This year’s conference is designed to provide a dedicated platform for harnessing informed opinions about the repositioning of the NN band in order to achieve global recognition through her musical performances,” he said.

    In his lecture, titled: Creating Identity for the NN Band in the Globe: A Case for Creativity and Indigenisation of Musical Performance, the guest speaker Dr. Isaac Ajenifuja said the NN band must be creative, proactive, original and effective to carve a unique identity in the global musical scene.

    “There is no doubt that the NN stage band had lived and is still living up to expectation in its performances. But the concert band and the regimental band need to be given attention and upgraded to realise the goal of attaining global identity.

    “Resultantly, the band can borrow a leaf from the People’s Republic of China’s band, where all the music performed in the regimental and concert band are indigenous and locally composed.

    “Although the NN band might not compulsorily and absolutely abandon Western music, but it must have a great percentage of indigenous music in its repertoire for performances,” he said.

     

  • Air Force gives honest personnel double promotion

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday gave a special recognition to Aircraftman Bashir Umar who returned a missing 37,000 Euros to the owner at the Hajj Camp of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, promoted him from aircraftman to Corporal at NAF headquarters of the Air Force in Abuja.

    Umar was flown into Abuja alongside his parents in a NAF aircraft.

    Abubakar said since the establishment of the Air Force, it was the first time a personnel of his rank was flown with a NAF jet.

    He added: “It is my pleasure to welcome you all as we gather to witness a highpoint in the career of ACM Bashir. I am also particularly thrilled to be part of another history being recorded here today by the exemplary conduct of this non-commissioned officer.

    “ACM Bashir’s display of uncommon act of integrity by returning €37,000 he found at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, to its owner on July 7, 2019 while performing his routine duties, portrays the good values we hold in high esteem in NAF.

    “In this vein, a key driver of my vision, which is to ‘Promote and inculcate the core values of integrity, excellence and service delivery’ readily comes to mind.

    “Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to say that we have found in ACM Bashir the rare qualities we stand for in the Nigerian Air Force.

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    “The special promotion of ACM Bashir to the rank of Corporal today, apart from serving as a reward for good conduct, is also to serve as motivation to other airmen/airwomen to aspire for such elevation. I am, therefore, delighted to see a cross section of the gathering of members and friends of the Air Force family for an event that triggers happiness and self-actualisation.

    “As you must have realised by now, ACM Bashir has earned the rank of Corporal by good conduct and as part of our desire to reward uncommon good deeds and excellence, we have chosen to have him decorated in front of his friends, peers and family.

    “…Let me sincerely thank our invited guests for finding time to come and share in the joy of this occasion. My particular thanks go to the parents of ACM Bashir for the support they have been providing him all these years. He will continue to need this support, perhaps even more now than ever. I commend them for grooming him with the values that have earned him this accolade.”

  • Air Force loses two personnel in ambush

    The Air Force has lost two of its personnel to an ambush laid by bandits in Birni-Gwari axis of Kaduna State.

    According to a statement signed by the Spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the personnel fought their ways through the ambush mounted by the bandits, but in the process lost two gallant men.

    Daramola said: “Troops of 271 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Detachment, Birnin Gwari on Monday, July 22, 2019, at about 5p.m. dismounted an ambush set up by armed bandits at Kawan Pole Waya, about 20km from Birnin Gwari on the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road.

    “The gallant troops were able to fight their way through the ambush to the side of Birnin Gwari and called for reinforcement. Unfortunately, two NAF personnel paid the supreme price in the process.

    “The personnel, Flying Officer Abdulrahman Bayero and Aircraftman Saidu Bawa, are scheduled to be buried today in accordance with Islamic rites.

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    “The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf all officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the families of the fallen heroes and prays that the Almighty grants their souls peaceful repose.

    “The CAS, who was at Birnin Gwari on Saturday, July 20, 2019, on an assessment visit, has urged all NAF personnel to remain resolute and continue to work assiduously, in synergy with sister services and other security agencies, to rid the Northwest of all criminal elements.”

  • NAF destroys bandits logistics store in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has destroyed some logistics’ stores belonging to bandits at a location within Kagara Forest, in Zamfara.

    NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who said this on Sunday in Abuja, added that the operation was conducted on Saturday.

    ” The operation was executed on Saturday April 13, following credible intelligence reports indicating that some of the bandits who had fled their camps as a result of NAF’s earlier air strikes had relocated some logistics items, including fuel, motorcycles and local arms making equipment, to another location within Kagara Forest.

    ” Accordingly, the ATF dispatched an Mi-35 helicopter gunship, supported by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, to attack the target.

    ” The target area initially appeared uninhabited.

    ” However, as the helicopter approached, some of the bandits were seen emerging from under the shrubbery and running away from the area,” he said.

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    Daramola said the helicopter engaged the target recording successful hits on the logistics facility, which was engulfed in flames with thick black smoke seen.

    He said some bandits, who fired at the aircraft, were taken out by the helicopter.

    ” Reports from independent sources, including local informants and village leaders around the general area, later confirmed that the logistics base was totally destroyed and four bandits killed as a result of the attack,” he said.

    The spokesman said the NAF, working in consonance with surface forces and other security agencies, would sustain its operations to flush the bandits out of the North West of the Country.

    NAN