The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Saturday conducted its First Quarter 2017 Route March exercise for officers and men serving in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja.
The exercise which is a quarterly routine March is aimed at keeping the personnel of NAF fit while enhancing the physical and mental alertness of officers and men of the NAF.
The March kicked off at 6:00 a.m at the Mogadishu Military Cantonment (MMC), Asokoro with every rank of the service participating.
It was an “exciting experience” with the Warrant Officers (WO) and Master Warrant Officers (MWO) rank leading the March while the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Sadique Baba Abubakar and ranks of Air Commodore and Air Vice Marshal ranks followed from the rear.
The Air Force band marched in the middle and treated the marchers to different tunes to help along.
Members of the National Youth Service Corps also participated fully in the March with some of them describing the exercise as rewarding.
The NAF also made provisions for medical ambulance services which fortunately was not required by anyone.
The March route was through Mogadishu barracks to Niger Barracks and back.
On arrival at MMC, the CAS said such exercises are essential for personnel of the NAF.
His words: ”Today’s challenges are very complex and complicated. It does not only require a sound mind, it equally requires a sound body.
”As a service, we have done our best in ensuring peace everywhere in Nigeria. We want to assure Nigerians that we will continue to work round the clock to ensure that our societies are secured, our communities are safe and Nigerians can go about their normal businesses without fear.”
While assuring the personnel that the NAF will provide their welfare within its available resources, the Naval Chief insisted that every personnel must contribute to the development, security and stability of Nigeria.
He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his support while urging the personnel to give him their absolute loyalty.
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.
As part of efforts to check insecurity in the northeast, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar has inaugurated a new Combat Search and Rescue Unit in Jos.
Abubakar, who spoke during the inauguration in Kerang community, Mangu Local Government disclosed that the unit will be equipped with medical and educational facilities for benefit of the military and civilians in the host community.
He said the current security situation in the country called for the establishment of the new unit, such that the combat search and rescue group could easily get to crisis area in the northern parts of the country.
Abubakar said: “The current security landscape of our country and the challenges to the attainment of our national security requires robust security architecture capable of rapid response in all spectrums.
“Having achieved the sufficient capacity within the last one and half-year, the NAF has identified need to establish a fifth fleet command with command operation headquarters in Abuja and comprising nine specialised units including the unit that will be located in this community.”
The CAS urged the new group to be professional in their conduct, adding that the decision to site the unit was part of the determination to add value to security in the area.
He restated commitment of the military to protect lives and properties in the State in partnerships with other para-military bodies.
Abubakar further lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his supports for the military.
“We are here to add value to the society. We will work in partnership with other security agencies to ensure plateau is secured.
“Our desire is to ensure people go out peacefully to do their legitimate businesses,” he added.
In his remark, Governor of Plateau State, Simeon Lalong described the inauguration as beneficial to the people considering the inclusion of medical and educational facilities.
He said the rate of insurgency in the country made it important to situate the new unit in the council area.
The governor, who disclosed that the land title for the project had been made available, emphasised that the establishment will reduce NAF response time to emergency crisis or rescue operations in the northern states.
“Within two days, a land was provided for the air force project in this community. If it were to be other communities, they will be fighting over compensation which could have caused another crisis,” Lalong added.
He described the special operations command and rescue unit as part of Federal Government commitment to protect citizens of the country.
However, he urged the military to adopt civil-military relationship with the host community.
Present at the event was Plateau State Commissioner for Police, Peter Babatunde, representatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) among others.
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]arely one year after it was commissioned, the ultra-modern Air Force Girls Comprehensive School Abuja holds its first inter-squadron sports competition. Assistant Editor, Seun Akioye reports the event is not short in supply of talents.
The Commandant of the Air Force Girls Comprehensive School (AFGCS) Abuja, Wing Commander Hafsat Jumai Ali did not mince her words when she announced that spectators who had gathered to see the first inter-squadron games of the school would witness amazing talents and discipline which had been instilled into the young girls just 121 days after the school was commissioned.
It is only natural for many to be apprehensive after all the school was only five months old and this would be the first inter squadron games, but Commandant Hafsat Ali spoke with much courage and conviction which seemed to infect the spectators.
“Since this school was commissioned, we have not relented in ensuring we deliver on the mandate of the school which is to add value to humanity,” she said stressing that what the audience would witness would be a show of talent and discipline by the students.
The AFGCS has acurious history, the site on which the school was built was originally meant to house a petrol station within the Air Force base before it was taken over by the Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA) with the intention of building a primary and Junior Secondary School. The building began but was abandoned and when it seemed the project was doomed, help came from the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar who took over and erected a world class boarding school.
On September 23, 2016, the school was commissioned amidst much fanfare with a total of 204 students distributed between the junior secondary schools 1 to 3 and Commandant Ali became the pioneer commander.
“Giving the girl child a chance”
The students have been divided into four squadrons christened after the NAF’s instruments of war namely; Alpha, Jaguar, Puma and Dornier squadrons. Among the competing games are the traditional track and field events and novel games like cycling, catching the train, egg and spoon, tug of war and sack race. But the match past and cadet display left many mouths aghast.
The students not only displayed exceptional skills and courage, they also displayed discipline which is a hall mark of military training. The cynosure of all eyes was the parade commander, Hajara Saadu whose exceptional display and natural talent earned her the approval of the Guest of Honour, Air Commodore Abubakar Garba, the Commander 053 Headquarters NAF Camp who represented the CAS.
The silent drill of the Cadet was exceptional with only a few errors which were quickly corrected that they went unnoticed to the untrained eyes. But in an event that seemed to be filled with military drills, the football match between the school and CAS teams presented the needed entertainment.
The match was chaotic at best with the 22 players running after wherever direction the ball went, missed kicks, foul play, lack of coordination dominated the regular time after which a penalty kick was inevitable to decide a winner.
One would have imagined this would be as easy as baking a cake for the girls but it was not to be; off shots, brazen lazy kicks and overall incompetence of some of the players gave the match to the CAS team.
But this was not to trivialise the ‘hard fought’ victory of the CAS team or to look down on some spectacularly talented players of the match like Mariam Haladu Kile a junior secondary school 1 student who donned the number 10 jersey for the CAS team. She was everywhere in the attacking position and the game would take on a new lease of life whenever she held the ball.
Victoria: We will come back stronger
“My brothers taught me how to play football, I usually play well with my brothers at home,” Victoria Paktama Bwala said. The Alpha Squadron which held the spectators fascination-mostly for sentimental reasons- was expected to brace the tape, this was not to be.
At the end of a highly competitive event, Dornier Squadron emerged the unlikely winners with 37 points, Puma scored a narrow victory ahead of Jaguar to claim the second spot with 33 against 32 points.
It was a disappointing 28 points Alpha Squadron could muster and it could only get them the bottom position. But the event was not about winning at all cost, but to create an environment where the girl child could showcase her talent, prepare body and mind and engage the spirit of competition.
The CAS said this is one of the reasons for the establishment of the school. “The essence of establishing this school is to give the girl child an environment and a chance to compete with the boys. We will establish more schools to serve humanity. The School is a viable platform to train children and I am delighted with the outcome of this school,” he said.
This lesson is not lost on the winners and ‘losers’ of the day. Halima Alikonu, the captain of the winning Squadron said her team was not expecting to win. “We weren’t expecting it, but we made it, it is exciting and even though it felt like it wasn’t possible, winning is really nice.”
The parade Commander Hajara is also looking to the future with a hope. “I want to join the Airforce, my father is a Master Warrant Officer (MWO) and I want to go become an officer in the Airforce,” she said with a smile.
For the captain of the losing Squadron, Bwala, the whole event could be summed up in a philosophical moment as follows: “In the rehearsal, we used to come first but our best athletes sustained some injuries and they were not able to compete, but this is a race, there must be winners and losers, it hurts to be the loser this time, but this is just the beginning, the first can come to be the last, next year we will do better,” she said.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday struck a Boko Haram Terrorist location at Tagoshe/Mandara Mountain general area about 10km South-west of Gwoza in Northern Borno. The intelligence report by Sister surface forces had it that the remnants of fleeing insurgents were gathered at the location. The report was confirmed by NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft before combat platforms were called in to strike the location. The Director Of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, said follow-up battle damage assessment confirmed that the air attack was successful as shown by the declassified footage of the operation.
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.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) committee investigating the accidental bombing of an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Rann, Borno state has asked for time extension to submit its report.
The committee headed by the NAF Chief of Standard and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Salihu Bala-Ribbah had initially been given up to February 2, 2017, to submit its report.
According to the Chief of the Air Staff, (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the committee has asked for an extension of its mandate in order to get all the facts.
The Air Chief said the committee has visited the affected area, interviewed all the relevant people and in the process of putting down a report.
Meanwhile, the (NAF) also revealed that a special phenomenon described as “Special Disorientation” was responsible for the tragic crash of the Donnier 228 aircraft with tail number NAF 030 which crashed shortly after take-off in Kaduna on August 29th,2015.
According to the Chairman of a special investigations panel and NAF’s Director of Safety, Air Vice Marshal Sampson
Akpasa: “We shipped the engine to the manufacturers, Honeywell Aerospace in Arizona USA, two board members observed the tear down of the engines between 30th October to 4th November 2015. Also, analysis on the fuel used by the aircraft was done by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and we found that both engines were working well at the time of the accident also, the fuel was found to be safe,” he said.
Seven occupants of the aircraft sustained fatal injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repairs.
AVM Akpasa said special disorientation is a phenomenon in aviation which can happen to any pilot, it is a situation where a pilot suddenly loses concentration and is disoriented to the point of losing control of the aircraft.
Akpasa also said that the investigation is ongoing on an F7Ni incident in Yola in 2016 saying an “unexploded ordinance” carried by aircraft was buried underground and has not been exhume.
On the Augusta 101 helicopter which crashed in Markudi in October 2016, he said parts of the aircraft have been flown to the United Kingdom and Canada for analysis.
The CAS said the NAF has put in measures to prevent such incidences by training more flight safety officers to monitor flying activities on all the platforms.
Abubakar: ” On the Donnier aircraft, there was no engine problem, what happened was special disorientation, it is a phenomenon in flying and we are training more safety officers to monitor our flying activities.
“On the F7 jet, the pilot died and investigations are ongoing, we will get the necessary support from the manufacturers to get a conclusive investigation.
“The NAF will continue to build capacity train and get the best of the equipment in our care.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Turkur Buratai has revealed the strategy used by the Nigerian army that changed the tide against Boko Haram in the war against insurgency in the northeast.
The Army Chief spoke in Abuja at the first Nigeria Army Research and Innovation Summit with the theme: Research and Innovation, Developing Synergy with Indigenous Institutions for Enhanced Capacity in the Nigerian Army.
Buratai said on assumption of the command of the Nigerian Army, he set in motion a deliberate programme for the immediate repair and refitting of all the abandoned and unserviceable weapons and equipment in the Nigerian Army inventory using local resources.
“ To this end, about 178 armoured fighting vehicles of various types were completely refurbished by Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at various Nigerian Army Workshops across the country.
“ These were the weapons and equipment operated by well-trained, dedicated and motivated officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army that turned the tide of operations in the Northeast in our favour,” Buratai said.
The Army Chief said summit is expected to explore ways of building on existing efforts to meet Nigerian Army’s operational needs areas of equipment, logistics and administration in line with his vision for the Nigerian Army.
He said the Army has recognised the changes in the dynamics of modern warfare which requires constant innovation, research and advancement in technology and is prepared to develop local capacity for an enduring research and innovation process that will enhance its operations.
“ Our experience in the Northeast and other theatres of operation has helped us draw useful lessons which have shaped the ongoing transformation process of the Nigerian Army aimed at developing and sustaining the right combat power for the professionally responsive force. We also learnt the hard lessons of over-reliance on foreign equipment and spares which was a huge setback in the initial stages of our operations,” he said.
The Special Guest of Honour and Minister for Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali in his speech said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari placed importance on research and innovation which is a key to unlocking the door to future technological and economic growth.
The Minister said innovation is a major component of military technology as a critical aspect in national development. He said the Buhari administration has given priority to research development that will reposition the Armed Forces towards attaining excellence in research and innovation.
The Defence Minister said the Federal Government would establish a Military Industrial Complex in Kaduna which is aimed at promoting research and innovation in the defence sector.
“ My Ministry will also host a National Conference on Defence industrialisation in Nigeria to attract local and international stakeholders to brainstorm and come up with a roadmap that will guide the successful take-off, of our Military Industrial Complex which will be driven by research and technological innovations,” he said.
He also revealed that the Ministry is working on a partnership between Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and some foreign original equipment manufacturers with a view to launching a pilot production line of some fast moving arms/ammunition for the Armed Forces.
Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu who was a keynote speaker at the event said with the innovations in equipment manufacturing by the Nigerian Army, Nigeria will soon achieve self-sufficiency in weapons and ammunition.
The Minister said Nigeria has no business begging to buy ammunition from developed countries while the same could be manufactured locally, he assured that the situation where Nigeria would not be able to buy ammunition will soon come to an end.
Residents and leaders of Chibok community in southern Borno have protested the posting of Captain Adamu Usman as the Commanding Officer (CO) to the community.
In a statement issued on behalf of the community and signed by the Chibok Spokesman, Comrade Manasseh Allen, the residents accused the new CO of “unfriendly, unprofessional and brutish style of interaction with the local residents in Chibok.”
According to Allen, the Commanding Officer had been posted to Chibok before he was sent on a course while a new CO was posted to the community. However, Adamu has now been re-posted to Chibok with a new headquarters in Mount Kautikari, one of the largest villages in Chibok near Boko Haram terrorists crossing point.
The community also accused the CO of dividing Chibok along religious lines, canning young people and making them to kneel down facing the sun. The residents also said, the CO was high-handed and never welcomed any suggestion from the community.
Allen: “Having spent two years or so in Chibok, Captain Adamu Usman was sent on a course and the people felt great relief from his unfriendly, unprofessional and brutish style of interacting with locals in Chibok.
“Accused severally of divisive tendencies along religious lines, he once threatened to shoot us when IG Wala, Olatunji Lanre-Baruwa, Bukky Shonibare and I were on a humanitarian outing to Chibok. He kept us standing for hours, I begged him for 30 minutes to allow me see my sick Dad, and for the team to give relief materials to parents of the abducted school girls in Chibok. He also threatened to shoot on sight of Oby Ezekwesili for drawing too much attention on Chibok Girls.
“While on course, the people thought the end of the operational style of such an officer had come, great relief from such unfriendly officer was felt. The community, through its Chairman, made several reports to the District Head on the matter in writing aside several reports to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). Shockingly, the same Captain Adamu has now been reposted to Chibok and moved to mount Kautikari, one of the largest Villages in Chibok near the Boko Haram terrorists (BHT) crossing point.”
Allen said the people of Chibok have cooperated fully with the military to bring lasting peace to the area but Captain Adamu’s posting to the area would reverse the gains made in recent times.
“Our people have been very cooperative working with the Military, but the likes of Capt. Adamu is not bringing any result as far as the war on terror and post-conflict confidence building is concerned. What is special about him that he should stay in Chibok for years when those on the ground are doing excellent work? Who is keen on getting him to remain in Chibok?
“The People of Chibok and entire neighbouring villages now live in constant fear of the Boko Haram Terrorists and Captain Adamu from the other side. We plead for an immediate return of the former Commanding Officer (CO) to Chibok, who worked day and night to secure Chibok and environs with serious coordination with his team and youth vigilantes,” Allen said.
Armed men suspected to be Boko Haram members on Friday attacked the Kaumatayahi village, east of Chibok, Borno, burnt one house and took a boy hostage.
Sources in Chibok told The Nation that the armed men numbering about 30 entered the village around midnight and began to shoot sporadically.
“They were shooting and burnt one house. Everybody ran helter skelter. In the chaos, they abducted one boy,” a source said.
