By Yahaya Isah
Abuja – The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Friday called for support from relevant civil organisations in the current war against terrorism and other forms of criminalities in Nigeria.
Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, said this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
According to Adesanya, the CAS made the call during his operational visit to NAF 115 Special Operations Group (SOG) in Port Harcourt, Rivers, where he noted the critical role being played by the Unit toward Nigeria’s security.
He said the visit would enable him to assess the level of progress in the ongoing reactivation of two NAF helicopters toward increasing its operational efficiency.
The CAS expressed satisfaction with the evolving unique partnership between the military and civil organisations, as being witnessed in the Unit.
“It is gratifying to note that the technical crews of NAF and Aero Contractors are working together to reactivate NAF Dauphin Helicopter,” he said.
Abubakar thanked the management of Aero Contractors, Overland Airways and Innoson Group, who rendered various technical services to NAF, at minimal or no costs.
He described the gesture of the three companies as exemplary and worthy of emulation.
“At times like this, the nation and the military in particular, require all available indices of power to ensure total victory.
“We, therefore, urge other relevant civil organisations to take a cue from the aforementioned organisations by supporting NAF in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria,”he said.
Abubakar also commissioned a new residential building designed to accommodate 120 new and incoming recruits.
He said the block was named after Late NAF09/24099 Aircraft woman Abdulmalik H, for her gallantry and sacrifice to the nation, in line with NAF’s desire to preserve the memories of fallen heroes/heroines.
“Late Abdulmalik died on Nov. 25, 2012 during a suicide bomb attack at the Jaji Cantonment Kaduna, by insurgents.
“The CAS and his entourage witnessed a demonstration by the Unit’s Rapelling Team after which he interacted with the officers as well as the airmen/airwomen in 2 separate meetings,” he said.
Abubakar said the best of ideas were not necessarily limited to the top hierarchy alone,
hence his decision to interact with the personnel.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the operational visit continues on July 8. (NAN)
