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Tag: Nigerian Air Force

  • Free medical outreach, air power, as NAF celebrates at 53

    Free medical outreach, air power, as NAF celebrates at 53

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said it will conduct free medical outreach to residents around the NAF bases in Makurdi Benue state as it begins activities to celebrate its 53 years of service to Nigeria. During the NAF day celebration which will be hosted by the Tactical Air Command (TAC) Makurdi, the NAF will also induct into its inventory two additional Mi-35M helicopters which were purchased from Russia.

    The aircraft would be deployed to join other platforms fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast. The chairman, organising committee and Director Of Operations (NAF), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Dayo Amao told  The Nation that the celebrations scheduled for April 20-22 will also witness air power meet, gala night, ceremonial parade, winging of new pilots and the presentation of colours to the Special Operations Command.

    AVM Amao said the NAF Day celebration with the theme: “Employment of Air Power for Enduring National Security” would afford the NAF the opportunity to take stock in the light of its statutory responsibility as a military Service.

    Amao: “Given the active role played by the NAF in  combating both real and perceived challenges facing our nation, it is no gain saying that the priority of the NAF lies in the consolidation of  the gains of air power employment especially at this crucial stage in the history of our nation.”

    AVM Amao also the induction of the Mi-35 M helicopters would redefine the war on insurgency as the helicopters would bring the needed firepower to bear on the activities of the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole.

    “The Mi-35M helicopters are new versions, it can fly in the night and in all weather, it is an attack helicopter and we are proud to have them,” Amao said.

  • Boko Haram: Air force introduce drones and L-39ZA aircraft

    Boko Haram: Air force introduce drones and L-39ZA aircraft

    • Intelligence shows locations of insurgents

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday said it has introduced an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) and L-39ZA fighter aircraft into the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast.

    During a press conference in Yola to give an giving an appraisal of the operations of the NAF in the first quarter of 2017, the Air Component Commander (ACC), Operation Lafiya Dole,  Air Commodore  Charles Owho said the introduction of the new platforms was necessitated by the enlargement of the NAF Area of Responsibility (AOR).

    The additional platforms deployed would join the now ageing Alpha jets, F9 jets, Mi 35 helicopters which have been in action since the beginning of the war on the insurgency. Already the UCAV CH-3A has already conducted  Air Interdiction on March 27, 2017.

    Air Commodore Ohwo also revealed that several Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations by the NAF has revealed that following the fall and capture of the insurgents former headquarters in Camp Zairo, most of the fighters fled to the West of Sambisa stretching up to the Southwest of Maiduguri and into Yobe State, while some others had moved to the East and Southeast of Sambisa towards Gwoza Hills and Tagoshe Hills.

    Owho said the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole has concentrated its air power the areaswith a view to further decimating the remaining BHT elements and facilitating the activities of own surface forces in the area.

    In a series of air operations including Air Interdiction, Close Air Support for ground troops, Air Recce, Combat Air Patrol and ISR, the ACC said the Air Component has successfully prevented the regrouping of Boko Haram Insurgents while providing effective air cover for ground troops for clearance operations.

    Among the operations conducted by the Air Component was the provision of daily air support for clearance operation in the south-west of Maiduguri at Boko Haram camps in  Talala and Ajigin.

    At the same location, on February 1, 2017, Alpha jets provided Close Air Support for ground troops to repel an attack from Boko Haram. Also, operations conducted by the troops of 21 brigade of 7 Division also provided ISR for the clearance operations in Ngoshe and Mabila high grounds.

    Also, the ISR platform also conducted various operations in Arege, northern Borno where a platoon of Boko Haram insurgents was sighted. “Our ISR aircraft maintained visual over BHTs in Arege and tracked them as shown on the screen. The BHTs took advantage of poor visibility and the terrain to escape imminent air strikes.

    “However, the efficient communication of the ISR ac with MNJTF forces eventually led to the dislodgement of the terrorists in a firefight. In this encounter, about 57 terrorists were killed and many injured while technical, weapons and ammo were recovered,” Ohwo said.

  • NAF reaffirms commitment to girl child education

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the Nigerian Air Force would continue to give necessary support to girl child education in the country.

    Abubakar made the statement when the Air Force Girls Alumni Association of Nigeria (AGAAN) paid him a courtesy visit at the NAF Headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the service had contributed significantly to the progress of AGAAN and girl child education generally in the country.

    He said the service, in its efforts to support girl child education, had built NAF Girls Secondary Schools in Abuja, and in Kauran Namoda, Zamfara.

    “We are converting NAF Girls Secondary School in Kaduna to a boarding school, to alleviate the suffering of the students for waking up early morning to join the bus to school.

    “We have completed the dining hall and other facilities. So, by September everything would have been completed and the boarding system will take-off,” he said.

    He said that the service was also making efforts to establish a NAF Girls Secondary School in Maiduguri to enable the girls there to have the opportunity to go to school.

    The Vice President of the Association, Hajia Zainab Gambo, said the purpose of the visit was to officially invite the chief of air staff to the organisation’s proposed inauguration of a project, tagged ” Visitor’s Park’’ at its Secretariat.

    Gambo said the visit was also to thank CAS for his support to the organisation, especially in the area of girl child education and his efforts so far in boosting professionalism in the service.

     

  • Trump plans to move ahead with Nigeria planes sale -Sources

    President Donald Trump’s administration is pushing forward with plans to sell up to a dozen aircraft to Nigeria’s air force for the fight against the extremist group Boko Haram.

    Sources said the deal could be worth up to 600 million dollars.

    Sources also said the Super Tocano A-29 aircraft, an agile, propeller-driven plane with reconnaissance and surveillance as well as attack capabilities, is made by Brazil’s Embraer.

    A second production line is in Florida, in a partnership between Embraer and privately held Sierra Nevada Corp of Sparks, Nevada.

    Former President Barack Obama’s administration originally agreed on the sale, but delayed it after incidents including the Nigerian Air Force’s bombing of a refugee camp in January that killed 90 to 170 civilians.

    The Trump administration wants to push ahead to boost Nigeria’s efforts to fight Boko Haram and bolster hiring in the United States by defense firms.

    “We’ve been told that the administration is going to go forward with that transaction,” a congressional aide said.

    Formal notification of the deal has not yet been sent to Congress but is expected shortly.

    Trump has said he plans to go ahead with foreign defense sales delayed under Obama by human rights concerns.

    A senior Nigerian military source in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, confirmed that the sale would go ahead and said it would also involve training, surveillance and military intelligence “to support … the ongoing insurgency war.”

    In March, the Trump administration informed Congress of its plans to pursue a five billion dollars sale to Bahrain of Lockheed Martin F-16s and related equipment, which had been held up under Obama when Bahrain failed to meet human rights targets.

    Reuters first reported the Obama administration’s plan to sell the Embraer aircraft to Nigeria in May 2016, as a vote of confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari’s drive to reform the military.

    The Super Tucano costs more than 10 million dollars each and the price can go much higher depending on the configuration.

    It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT six engine.

    Trump’s plan to move ahead with the Nigerian sale was first reported on Monday by the Associated Press.

    The U.S. congressional source said rights concerns remain, despite support for the sale from some lawmakers.

    There are also questions about whether Nigeria will be able to pay the full 600 million dollars for the aircraft, equipment, training and support.

    U.S. officials said Buhari raised frustration with delays in the sale in a phone call with Trump in February.

     

  • Rann IDPs bombing: Hearing of rights suit stalls

    Rann IDPs bombing: Hearing of rights suit stalls

    A Fundamental Enforcement Rights suit, filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Mr Hammed Jimoh, against the Federal Government, fixed for hearing on Monday was stalled.

    The case, slated in the Federal High Court, Abuja, was due to the late filing of processes by defence counsel.

    It was instituted against the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and Attorney-General of the Federation for accidental bombing of Rann IDPs camp in Borno on January 17, 2017, which claimed many lives, including some international aid workers.

    Ruling on motion for adjournment, Justice John Tsoho held that all the parties must be given equal opportunity in the interest of justice.

    “In the circumstance, the suit is adjourned until April 28 for definite hearing but at no cost to anyone.

    “Already, the court is aware that the second respondent (AGF) is billed to pay the sum of N50, 000 as default penalty, adding other bills would amount to double jeopardy,’’ he said.

    At the resumed session, Mr Philip Okongwu, counsel for the first respondent (NAF) drew the attention of the court to his inability to access some of the latest processes filed by the applicant.

    Okongwu said the applicant had briefed him about those processes, but that he had travelled out of Abuja and therefore could not access them.

    “My Lord, for the interest of justice, an adjournment remains the most viable option for today’s proceeding.

    “Even though we had filed our motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court on this matter, it is only fair that parties are given equal chance in the case,’’ he said.

    Also, Mr Tijani Gazale, counsel to AGF filed an oral application, urging the court to avail his client a short adjournment to prepare for the case.

    He noted that the second respondent had clearly defaulted for not filing a brief of argument within the speculated period, adding that he had done that some hours ago.

    “My Lord, this setback came from our registry but that has been sorted and at this point, we are urging the court to grant us an adjournment to enable us to come back strongly,’’ he said.

    However, Jimoh, vehemently objected the position canvassed by counsel to the two respondents, adding that hearing notice had been served on all the parties by the court.

    He said the respondents were using delay tactics to buy time, adding that the court should disregard the motion and move on with the hearing of the suit.

    Jimoh, who is also the counsel representing himself in the matter, said the suit had fulfilled all the provisions of law and the rules of the court to be heard.

    He urged the court to specifically turn down the prayer of the counsel to the second respondent because they had chosen to file processes after 50 days they were served with the originating summons.

    Jimoh, however, said if the court was disposed to granting the adjournment, then, the second respondent should be made to pay N50, 000 as a cost to the applicant.

    NAN reports that the applicant in the suit is seeking an order compelling the respondents to produce the true figures of the victims of the disaster.

    He is also urging the court to compel the respondents to pay N100 million as compensation to each of the families of the dead in the incident and award N50 million compensation to those wounded in the air raid.

    The applicant said he brought the action under the enforcement of a fundamental human right to life, pursuant to Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    Jimoh also prayed the court to hold that he had locus to institute the action and that it had jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

    NAN also reports that the Federal Government has constituted a committee to do exactly what the applicant may be asking the court to do.

    Speaking with journalists, after the session, counsel for the second respondent said the applicant was over-reaching himself, adding that the action was motivated by the need for self-aggrandisement.

    “It will interest you to know that the applicant has not visited the injured victims and families of the dead and this is obvious as the names of the victims are not mentioned in the summons,” he said.

    However, Jimoh said he was simply moved by the plight of the injured victims and families of those who died due to the bombing.

    “I am human rights activist, this is the area of law I have chosen to profess, no harassment or blackmail shall change me”.

  • Sports fosters peace, stability – Group Capt. Ayodele

    Group Capt. Ifamuyiwa Ayodele has said that the ongoing combat competition among Nigerian Air Force personnel in Jos would foster peace and unity in the country in the fight against insurgency.

    Ifamuyiwa, the Air Force spokesman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Jos that the combat competition had drawn personnel from various formations in parts of the country.

    He added that the competition had brought them together in the spirit of sportsmanship.

    “In a time like this, it is only wise to prepare the minds of personnel to confront insurgency so as to maintain peace and stability in the country.

    “The personnel must know the importance of peace and sports offers that ground for them to interact and share ideas and learn from one another,” Ifamuyiwa said.

    He explained that the competition would further strengthen relationships among the personnel and encourage them to see themselves as belonging to one Nigeria without any form of prejudice.

    According to him, all these are needed to fight all forms of insecurity and uproar in the country.

    “When called on, personnel should be able to discharge their constitutional responsibilities optimally without any form of discrimination,” he added.

    He said that through sports the country would have a secure and stable environment for development.

    Ifamuyiwa advised the personnel to do all they could to be physically and mentally fit as so many people were watching them.

     

  • AIB, Nigerian Air Force partner on air safety

    The Nigerian Air Force  (NAF) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) have unfolded plans to enhance aviation safety.

    They agreed to set up a joint-committee to explore areas of mutual cooperation.

    The deal, according to the Head, Public Affairs of the Bureau, Tunji Oketunbi, was  a fallout of a meeting between the leadership of the two bodies last week in Abuja.

    AIB’s new Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer,  Akin Olateru, visited the Chief of Air Staff (AVM), Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar, where the two bodies examined areas of cooperation, Oketunbi said.

    The Chief of Air Staff,  according to Oketunbi, lauded the role of AIB in promoting safety in the  industry, saying the Air Force would be willing to extend its human and material resources to the bureau, urging its management to identify the needed areas of assistance.

    AVM Abubakar called on the AIB to initiate proactive measures that will mitigate the effects of air accidents.

    He invited AIB to be part of safety evaluation to have independent assessment from an external organisation

    Olateru  praised the Air Force for its  role in  supporting civil aviation and defence of the country.

    He said the importance of a stronger relationship between the two bodies cannot be over emphasised as the Air Force is strategically placed to help during emergencies with its facilities spread across the country.

    He canvassed cooperation in human capital development and emergency response.

    “There are a lot of things the Nigerian Air Force can do to assist the Accident Investigation Bureau in training. We know you don’t joke with  the training of Nigerian Air Force personnel.

    “We need to cooperate with you in developing human capital. We also need a documented emergency response plan in which you can play a very critical role,” Olateru said.

    Working together, he said, will help AIB in fulfilling its mandate of accident investigation and prevention.

    The AIB chief offered the Air Force the opportunity to use the Bureau’s flight laboratory for its incident and accident purposes just as the Chief of Air Staff pledged to post an officer to work in AIB as done to Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and  other agencies.

  • Airport closure: NAF increase air patrol on Kaduna-Abuja highway

    Airport closure: NAF increase air patrol on Kaduna-Abuja highway

    Following the closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has assured of increased security for travellers on the Kaduna-Abuja highway saying it is increasing its air surveillance and patrol in the axis.

    The NAF also said following its four months of intense surveillance on the Kaduna rail line, incidences of kidnapping and cattle rustling have been substantially reduced assuring travellers of their safety.

     Speaking at the Kaduna Air Force base after an extensive tour of the civil and military air bases, the NAF Chief of Training and Operations (CTOP), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Abdullahi Ahmed Iya said the Air Force has made extensive arrangements to accommodate both the civil and military air traffic during the closure of the Abuja airport.

    AVM Iya who was in Kaduna with all the top specialist directors of the NAF on the orders of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said there was need to assess the operations of both the civil and the military air traffic after a few days of operation at the  Kaduna international airport and to bridge the gaps where necessary.

    Iya said: “Before the closure, we have been patrolling the Abuja-Kaduna rail line and we have substantially reduced the kidnapping and cattle rustling problems on Kaduna-Abuja highway from our constant patrol in coordination with the army, the patrol will continue it is just that now that there is increased traffic, we just want to make sure we cover everything so we won’t have issues during the closure of the Abuja airport.”

    He said monitoring the work operations became necessary as the  Abuja Air Force operations and the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) have been moved to Kaduna in order to avoid conflict with the civil aviation traffic.

    Iya: “We are here to assess the general arrangement after the relocation to Kaduna, we have just finished inspecting the Kaduna civil airport,  the helicopters are here they used to be based in Abuja, we have come to look at arrangements done now that they are here. The Presidential Air Fleet also relocated to this place, we want to re-assess the arrangements and security and then we will go back and brief the CAS.

    “The Kaduna base is where we have our primary flight training school so we share the airspace with the civil so we need to properly coordinate with the civil traffic so there will be no conflict  and there will be safe operations.”

    While assuring that there will be no conflict between military and civilian airplanes AVM Iya said the few gaps that have been noticed will quickly be closed.

    “I think from what we have seen so far, no major problems, there are a few gaps which the specialist directors have seen and we will close the gap. We did detailed planning before we move, on the whole we are satisfied with what we have seen so far,” he said.

     Later, two NAF Helicopters, Augusta and the Supa Puma embarked on a routine patrol of the Kaduna-Abuja highway and the rail line for about 30 minutes before returning to Kaduna, the exercise, according to the NAF would increase as Kaduna airport increases air traffic.

    Meanwhile, air transport activities are also increasing at the Kaduna airport, officials of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who spoke to our correspondent in Kaduna said the logistics are getting better by the day.

    “We are improving, you just need to give us about one more week and everything will be perfect, there is increased traffic into this airport and some of the airlines are even saying they will stay in Kaduna after Abuja airport is reopened,” one of the officials said.

  • NAF to produce liquid oxygen for combat aircraft

    NAF to produce liquid oxygen for combat aircraft

    • Activates Monguno FOB

    In a drive to ensure it produces the essential equipment needed for the prosecution of the war on terrorism locally, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will soon begin the production of Liquid Oxygen for use by combat aircraft.The NAF Chief of Training and Operation (CTOP) Air Vice Marshal  (AVM), Abubakar Iya spoke during an operational visit to the 103 Strike Group Yola.  He said the Oxygen Plant is in the final stages and would produce various gases that will also be used by hospitals.

    Iya said: “This is an operational visit as directed by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) to the front line in the northeast, we inspected the oxygen plant, it is going to produce the necessary gases for flying and medical facility, it is an all-purpose plant but mainly it will produce liquid oxygen for our combat aircraft and as you can see the plant is almost ready. It can also produce other gases like nitrogen and gaseous oxygen which our hospitals could use, as soon as the plant is ready; it is going to service the entire air force.”

    The CTOP also said the plant is being run and managed by local Air Force personnel in the drive to build the capacity of the local engineers. “It is part of our capacity building, the installation process is handled by our own personnel, the production is going to be handled by our own personnel, the company that manufactured the equipment is only coming to inspect to ensure everything is in place according to specification,” Iya said.

    Meanwhile, the  NAF said it is activating its Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Monguno in order to support the operations of Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJFT) in Northern Borno, while special operations will also commence to push back the insurgents in that corridor.

    The NAF CTOP, AVM Abubakar Iya said the Monguno FOB will also support the helicopter services of the NAF when the special operations begin. “We are going to Monguno to activate our Forward Operation Base so that we can adequately support the Multinational Joint Task Force who is also covering the northern fringes of Borno State, we are embarking on Special Operations very soon, in preparation for that, we want to make sure the Monguno FOB is specially prepared to support our Helicopter operations,” he said.

    While assuring that the war on insurgency will soon be won, the CTOP assured that the Air Force will intensify monitoring and surveillance following the recent resurgence of attacks in Maiduguri.

    “We will continue to follow them wherever they go, we will maintain constant surveillance and take necessary actions either by informing the ground troops or we have our own independent actions also where we take out any threat we see, wherever they go we are there. The NAF is quite capable, we are doing our best to ensure the problem is taken care of; we are giving maximum support to the land and maritime forces,” he said.

  • IDP camp bombing death toll hits 90

    The death toll from an accidental Nigerian air strike on a  Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp in the town of Rann, Borno, has risen to around 90 people, and could be as high as 170, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said in a statement on Friday.

    Tuesday’s strike on the northeastern town, which had Boko Haram militants as its target, has led to an investigation by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    The inquiry’s report is due to be submitted no later than February 2, Reuters reported.

    The aid group, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said the higher figure of 170 comes from reports from residents and community leaders.

    “This figure needs to be confirmed,” Reuters quoted Bruno Jochum, MSF General Director, as saying in the statement.

    “The victims of this horrifying event deserve a transparent account of what happened and the circumstances in which this attack took place.”

    “A Nigerian Air Force plane circled twice and dropped two bombs in the middle of the town of Rann, which hosts thousands of internally displaced people,” MSF said.

    “At the time of the attack, an aid distribution was taking place.”

    On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said the strike had destroyed 35 structures, and hit 100 metres from what appears to be a Nigerian military compound, raising questions about why precautions were not taken to avoid harming civilians.