The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigerian Air Force (NAF)

  • Borno: NAF commences another medical outreach

    Borno: NAF commences another medical outreach

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Thursday said it had commenced another round of medical outreach programme in Borno.

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

    According to Adesanya, the new round of medical outreach programme was primarily aimed at enhancing available NAF medical facilities and personnel at the Medical Centre of NAF 105 Composite Group (CG), in Maiduguri.

    “This is to position the medical centre to adequately attend to the anticipated increase in the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of the intensive day and night aerial bombardments by NAF,” he said.

    In the statement, the NAF Chief of Medical Services Branch, AVM Saleh Shinkafi, also said the programme was an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

    Shinkafi said that it was also designed to win the hearts and minds of the locals in the conflict areas.

    He said a team comprising different medical specialists had been deployed to the 105 CG Medical Centre to augment the existing medical manpower for the operation.

    He said Abubakar had also directed that surgeries be conducted, at no cost to the IDPs, for those requiring surgical interventions.

    “Upon deployment, the medical team immediately started attending to critical surgical cases in IDPs camps around Maiduguri, including Bakassi, NYSC, Gubio, Teachers’ Village, CAN Centre, Shuari, Farm Centre, Goni Kachalai, Muna Garage and Dalori.

    “So far, NAF medical outreach team has successfully performed 23 general surgeries and 30 eye surgeries on IDPs from the various camps at no cost to them.

    “The team of medical specialists extended the medical outreach to the IDPs camp in Rann from where over 30 IDPs had already been transported by  NAF helicopter for surgical interventions in Maiduguri,” Shinkafi said.

    He said further that the exercise was fourth in the series of surgical interventions lined up by NAF for the IDPs in Borno.

    According to him, it is envisaged that surgeries would be conducted on about 150 IDPs during the exercise.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAF commenced Operation “Ruwan Wuta” few days ago to further degrade the capability of the insurgents thereby, preventing them from regrouping to cause havoc.

  • NAF destroys more Boko Haram’s structures in Sambisa

    NAF destroys more Boko Haram’s structures in Sambisa

    The Nigerian Air Force ( NAF ) says it has destroyed more structures in Borno used by Boko Haram insurgents as meeting points.

    This NAF announced this in a statement issued by Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Adesanya explained that on the fourth day of an ongoing intensive bombardment of the insurgents’ hideouts in the Sambisa General Area, the airforce conducted air interdiction on Boko Haram’s settlement in Njimia on Sept. 10.

    “NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms had previously confirmed that several structures used by the terrorists as meeting points were in the location.

    “The air interdiction was conducted by the Alpha Jet and F-7Ni aircraft, which took turns to attack the location with bombs.

    “Subsequent Battle Damage Assessment showed that the targeted insurgent’s structures were destroyed as a result of the attacks,” he said.

    The director said that the attacks were designed to further break the will and capability of the insurgents to regroup against the air force.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some buildings used by the insurgents in Borno, especially in the Sambisa General Area, had earlier been destroyed by the military in the newly launched operation.

  • Air Force, Army rain bombs on Boko Haram

    Air Force, Army rain bombs on Boko Haram

    A large number of Boko Haram terrorists have been killed in two successive air strikes conducted by the Nigerian Air Force Monday and an ambush laid in another operation by troops of the 151 Battalion, 21 Brigade Nigerian Army.

    The air strikes were carried out at Zanari, in Borno state, while the ground troops of the operation Lafiya Dole component also neutrilized scores of insurgents in an ambush at Bocost along Ngurosoye-Bama road, in Borno state.

    In a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, the insurgents were hit by two aircrafts in rapid succession with the structures housing them going up in flames.

    The NAF air operations were supported with video footages released by Air Commodore Adesanya.

    Adesanya said: “In furtherance of the recently commenced Operation RUWAN WUTA, on 7 September 2017, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted air interdiction on structures with 2 hoisted Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) Organization flags in Zanari, a known location with significant BHT presence at the northern fringes of Borno State bordering Lake Chad.

    “Quite a number of BHTs had earlier been spotted, from a NAF Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform, entering the buildings apparently for meetings.

    “The F-7Ni and the Alpha Jet aircraft were detailed to attack the target. Overhead the location, the target was acquired and engaged by the 2 aircraft, in rapid succession. Subsequent Battle Damage Assessment revealed that the targeted structures went up in flames, killing its occupants.

    “The objective of Operation RUWAN WUTA is to further degrade the capability of the BHTs thereby preventing them from regrouping to cause havoc for our surface forces.

    “The Operation also aims at softening the ground for our surface forces to subsequently move in and conduct mopping up operations”

    Meanwhile Nigerian Army Spokesperson, Brig.General Sani Usman in a statement said: “the Troops of 151 Battalion, 21 Brigade Nigerian Army on operation LAFIYA DOLE, at the early hours of Sunday 10th September 2017, laid a successful ambush on a suspected Boko Haram terrorists crossing point at Bocost along Ngurosoye -Bama road, Borno State.

    “The Troops neutralized a large number of the Boko Haram terrorists, while other terrorists sustained gunshot wounds.

    “The troops recovered the following items from the terrorists; 1 AK 47 rifle with the registration number 1029, 1 AK 47 magazine, 60 rounds of 7.62mm Special, 3 Bicycles, 4 Empty Jerricans, a Cutlass and the cash sum of Five Thousand and Six Hundred Naira (N5, 600.00k) only”.

  • Ochai, a national hero, says Air Force Chief

    Ochai, a national hero, says Air Force Chief

     

    Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has described late NAF instructor pilot, Group Capt. Adanu Ochai, who died in a plane crash in Kaduna, as a hero who contributed  immensely to the nation.

    Abubakar made the remark when he led senior officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased in Kaduna.

    A statement by the NAF Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the air chief pledged to support the family left behind by Ochai.

    Late Ochai was the sole pilot on board the NAF Air Beetle aircraft which crashed in Kaduna on Aug. 24.

    “During the visit, prayers were said for the family of late Ochai as well as for the repose of his soul.

    “While speaking with Mrs Ochai, the wife of the late instructor pilot, Abubakar said that late Ochai was a hero who died in the service of the nation while doing what he was passionate about.’’

    Abubakar added that the deceased was an excellent pilot who had trained several officers who knew nothing about flying to become reliable NAF pilots.

    According to him, the late instructor had greatly contributed to the development of NAF, the latest being the record graduation of pilots who completed primary flying training as cadets at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

    The chief of air staff assured the widow that NAF would never forget her husband’s enormous contributions and would cater for the welfare of the family he left behind.

  • Makurdi: NAF provides medical assistance to flood victims

    Makurdi: NAF provides medical assistance to flood victims

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Monday, inaugurated medical assistance programme to meet the medical needs of the recent flood victims in Makurdi, Benue.

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

    According to Adesanya, the programme was inaugurated by Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command (TAC) of NAF, AVM MA Idris.

    He said the programme was part of the Command’s corporate social responsibility and was borne out of the desire to contribute to the medical needs of the flood victims.

    Adesanya said that Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue thanked NAF for its assistance to the state, especially in the area of humanitarian services in the country.

    “A few days ago, following a downpour, many houses in Makurdi were submerged in flood water.

    “The persons affected by the flood were rendered homeless and several medical casualties were recorded.

    “Thousands of victims of the flood were accommodated at the Makurdi International Market, where NAF medical outpost programme was inaugurated,” he quoted Ortom as saying.

    The director recalled that NAF also recently transported the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other officials to Makurdi in response to a Presidential directive.

    Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed the Medical Services Branch of NAF to provide more drugs and deploy more medical personnel to complement the efforts of the command.

  • Security: NAF allocates nine units to new command

    Security: NAF allocates nine units to new command

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its new Ground Training Command (GTC), Enugu, will oversee and supervise nine NAF units to improve security in the country.

    The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the GTC, Enugu, AVM Samson Akpasa, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday.

    Akpasa said that the units were 553 Base Services Group, Enugu; 541 Communications Group, Enugu; 563 NAF Helicopters, Jos; 551 NAF Station, Jos; and NAF School of Finance and Accounts, Badagry.

    The others were NAF Institute of Administrative Management (Temporarily in Kaduna); Regiment Training Centre, Kaduna; SNCOs Leadership and Management Academy (Temporarily in Kaduna) and Military Training Centre, Kaduna.

    Akpasa said that the GTC, which was created on July 3, 2017, was part of the restructuring of NAF meant to widen the span and reach of NAF toward effective and efficient projection of air power.

    “The function of the new GTC Command and its units included but not limited to building of capacity through purposeful training of personnel, implementation of local military training policy and non-technical ground training programmes of NAF,’’ he said.

    According to him, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, is delighted that NAF is returning to Enugu in a bigger way through the new GTC Command.

    “However, we are appealing for maximum cooperation of the State Government and other stakeholders in kick-starting of the command headquarters,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that Air Officer Commanding in Nigerian Air Force is equivalent to General Officer Commanding (GOC) in the Nigerian Army.

  • NAF aircraft crashes in Kaduna, kills instructor

    NAF aircraft crashes in Kaduna, kills instructor

    A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Beetle on Thursday crashed in Kaduna State while on a mission, killing the pilot.

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

    According to Adesanya, the only soul on board the aircraft, one of NAF’s experienced instructor pilots, was unfortunately lost during the mishap.

    The director said that the cause of the incident had not been ascertained.

    Adesanya added that the Chief of Air Staff, (CAS) , Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has immediately directed the constitution of a board of inquiry to determine the immediate and remote causes of the crash.

    “The unfortunate incident is a tragic reminder of the hazards associated with the flying profession.

    “The CAS and the entire NAF family commiserate with the relatives of the late instructor pilot,” he said.

  • Major shake up in Nigerian Air Force, 58 Officers Redeployed

    Major shake up in Nigerian Air Force, 58 Officers Redeployed

    A major shakeup involving the redeployment of a total of 58 Senior Officers in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been announced following the establishment of two new Commands and a Branch.

    Following the development, 25 Air Vice Marshals, 20 Air Commodores, 5 Group Captains and One Wing Commander were moved from their duty posts to man other strategic positions in the NAF.

    The authority of the NAF said it was part of restructuring efforts to enhance the effective and efficient projection of the nation’s air power. The shake up also affected 4 Squadron Leaders, 2 Flight Lieutenants and One Flying Officer.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya who gave reasons for the redeployment of the Officers in a statement, said the two new Commands established by the NAF are the Air Training Command (ATC) with headquarters in Kaduna and the Ground Training Command (GTC) with headquarters in Enugu.

    The statement reads: “As part of restructuring efforts by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to enhance the effective and efficient projection of air power, 2 new Commands and a Branch have been established. The 2 new Commands established are the Air Training Command (ATC) with Headquarters in Kaduna and Ground Training Command (GTC) with Headquarters in Enugu.

    “These new commands were excised from the now defunct Training Command (TC) thereby bringing the total number of Commands in the NAF to 6. The ATC will be responsible for the implementation of policies on flying and air operations while the GTC will be responsible for the implementation of local ground training.

    “The newly established Branch is known as Communications Branch. The Branch was unbundled from the former Logistics and Communications Branch which brings the number of NAF branches to 10. The new Branch would handle all the needs of the NAF, with regards to communications, electronics, radar maintenance, Information and Space Technology.

    “Sequel to this development, the NAF has redeployed a total of 58 officers comprising 25 Air Vice Marshals (AVM), 20 Air Commodores, 5 Group   Captains, one Wing Commander, 4 Squadron Leaders, 2 Flight Lieutenants and one Flying Officer.

    “Among those posted to Defence Headquarters are AVMs Wakili Ahmed, Defence Policy and Plans; Ibrahim Umaru, Director Safety and Manual; Benjamin Nweze, Director, Civil-Military Relations; Eche Agwungwu, Director Space; Bernard Chiobi, Director of Operations and Onyemaechi Osahor, Director General Defence Research Production Bureau.

    “Senior Officers posted within HQ NAF include AVMs Nurudeen Balogun who is now Chief of Training and Operations; Muhammadu Muhammed,  Chief of Policy and Plans; Charles Otegbade, Director of Plans; Olusoji Awomodu, Director of Museum and Archives; Sani Ahmed, Director of Policy; Muhammad Abdul-Wahab, Air Secretary; Kingsley Lar, Chief of Standards and Evaluation; Napoleon Bali, Director of Training; Christian Dii, Managing Director Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Limited; Abdulganiyu Olabisi, Chief of Aircraft Engineering; Charles Oghomwen, Chief of Communications, Cletus Udeagulu, Director Research and Development and Paul Dimfwina, Director of Evaluation.

    “Similarly, the newly appointed Air Officers Commanding are AVMs Samson Akpasa, Ground Training Command, Enugu; Saddiq Kaita, Special Operations Command, Bauchi; and Mohammed Idris, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi”.

  • NAF establishes two new commands, branch, redeploys 58 senior officers

    NAF establishes two new commands, branch, redeploys 58 senior officers

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday said it had established two new Commands and a Branch for effective operations.

    The Service has also redeployed 58 senior officers.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.

    According to Adesanya, the exercise is part of the restructuring efforts of the Service to enhance the effective and efficient projection of air power.

    He said the two new Commands are: the Air Training Command (ATC) with Headquarters in Kaduna State, and the Ground Training Command (GTC) with Headquarters in Enugu State.

    “These new commands were excised from the now defunct Training Command (TC), thereby bringing the total number of Commands in the NAF to six.

    “The ATC will be responsible for the implementation of policies on flying and air operations while the GTC will be responsible for the implementation of local ground training,” he said.

    Adesanya added that the newly-established Branch is known as Communications Branch, and was unbundled from the former Logistics and Communications Branch.

    This, he said, brought the number of NAF branches to 10.

    He said the new Branch would handle all the needs of NAF with regards to communications, electronics, radar maintenance, Information and Space Technology.

    “Sequel to this development, NAF has redeployed a total of 58 officers comprising 25 AVMs, 20 Air Commodores, five Group Capts. , one Wing Commander, four Sqn. Ldrs., two Flt.- Ltr. and one Flying Officer.

    “Those posted to Defence Headquarters are AVMs Wakili Ahmed, Defence Policy and Plans; Ibrahim Umaru, Director Safety and Manual; Benjamin Nweze, Director, Civil-Military Relations.

    “Eche Agwungwu, Director Space; Bernard Chiobi, Director of Operations and Onyemaechi Osahor, Director-General Defence Research Production Bureau.

    “Senior Officers posted within HQ NAF include: AVMs Nurudeen Balogun who is now Chief of Training and Operations; Muhammadu Muhammed, Chief of Policy and Plans; Charles Otegbade, Director of Plans,” he said.

    “Others are: Olusoji Awomodu, Director of Museum and Archives; Sani Ahmed, Director of Policy; Muhammad Abdul-Wahab, Air Secretary; Kingsley Lar, Chief of Standards and Evaluation; Napoleon Bali, Director of Training.

    “Christian Dii, Managing Director Aircraft Engineering and Technical Services Ltd; Abdulganiyu Olabisi, Chief of Aircraft Engineering; Charles Oghomwen, Chief of Communications, Cletus Udeagulu, Director Research and Development and Paul Dimfwina, Director of Evaluation,” Adesanya said.

    Similarly, the newly-appointed Air Officers Commanding, he said, are AVMs Samson Akpasa, Ground Training Command, Enugu; Saddiq Kaita, Special Operations Command, Bauchi; and Mohammed Idris, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi.

  • 300,000 IDPs benefit from NAF free medical service in two years – CMO

    300,000 IDPs benefit from NAF free medical service in two years – CMO

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), said on Monday that no fewer than 300,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have benefited from its free medical services in two years.

    The NAF Chief Medical Officer, AVM Sale Shinkafi, who made the disclosure in Maiduguri, said that the patients received free treatment at the various medical outreaches organised by the service.

    Shinkafi said that the medical interventions included general surgeries, obstetrics, gynaecology and ophthalmology.

    He explained that exercise, conducted in Abuja, Yola, Maiduguri among others, enabled no fewer than 300,000 IDPs with different ailments to receive free treatment within the period.

    The chief medical officer disclosed that the command was currently conducting surgical operations on 300 IDPs in Borno.

    “The exercise is part of the NAF medical intervention designed to alleviate the surgical condition of IDPs in Borno State.

    “About 100 IDPs with special cases are selected each from three camps; Dalori, Banki and Bama, to benefit from the exercise.

    “This is part of a comprehensive intervention towards improving the health status of the IDPS”.

    Shinkafi added that NAF had also established two clinics at Dalori and Bama IDPs camps, noting that the health facilities were equipped with modern gadgets.

    The chief medical officer revealed that some 150 eye surgeries were done in Maiduguri in 2016 while over 35, 000 IDPs received free medical treatment in the area in the last two years.

    “More than 10, 000 IDPs were also treated at the NAF emergency center in Bama.

    “We are also providing psycho-social therapy to traumatized IDPs and cancer screening services,” he added.

    According to him, the command is also providing free meals to 500 pupils in Bama under its nutrition support scheme.