The Nigeria Air Force will soon take delivery of 15 aircraft and eight drones to fight insecurity that has plagued the country for so long.
Former chief of air staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar disclosed during the fly-out ceremony held at the NAF Base, Abuja, on Tuesday.
With the equipment, Abubakar said the NAF would be able to employ air power more effectively, efficiently and timely in all theatres of operations across the country.
He said during the his tenure as CAS, NAF added value to what it met in 2015 as well as contributed to the security and development of the nation.
He also stated that NAF now has enhanced research and development capacity through its partnership with 15 Nigerian universities aimed at addressing certain aircraft maintenance challenges.
“In the last five years, we have been able to restructure and reposition the Nigerian Air Force into a highly professional and disciplined force.
“The flag of the Nigerian Air Force is today flying high from Agatu to Gembu to Gusau to Katsina to Daura to Owerri to Birin Gwari, Ipetu Ijesha, Kerang, Gombe and Bauchi. By the special grace of God Funtua will soon join up.
“I am confident that with the 15 aircraft and eight unmanned combat aerial vehicles we are expecting in no distant future, the service will be better positioned to be more decisive in addressing the security challenges facing the nation.”
The ex-CAS congratulated his successor, AVM Oladayo Amao and urged the air force personnel to continue to give their best.
Besides, he counselled Amao to sustain and build on the initiatives he put in place in the last five years.
“The service through this initiative has trained and winged 133 pilots who today constitute 49 per cent of all active NAF pilots that are fighting in different theatres of conflicts to secure our country and protect our people.
“Another 21 pilots will be completing their training before the end of the first quarter of 2021 to join their comrades in the fight to defend our territorial integrity and national sovereignty,” he said.
