DEFENCE
NAF Trains 568 Specialists to Enhance Proficiency in Combat Skills
The Nigerian Air Force, on Wednesday graduated 568 specialists to enhance proficiency and expertise in ground combat skills.
Report says that the 568 personnel were trained at the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Administrative Management (NAFIAM) and Regiment Training Centre (RTC), Kaduna.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, commended NAFIAM and RTC for their continued efforts in training personnel to enhance their administrative proficiency and expertise in ground combat skills.
The Air Chief was represented by Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Grand Training Command, AVM Usman Abdullahi.
“This has been achieved by ensuring that the new ideas and concepts passed to the personnel meet the requirements to function effectively in the asymmetric and dynamic security challenges confronting our country,” he added.
According to him, the graduation is another milestone to the achievements of both institutions which have over the years trained highly skilled manpower to effectively perform administrative and ground combat duties in the Nigerian Air Force.
He said that the vision of increasing the NAF training capacity was being actualized with the additional 568 personnel, comprising 32 officers and 536 airmen and airwomen who successfully completed their sundry courses.
Abubakar said NAF under his leadership remained committed to continually pursue purposeful training and capacity development of all NAF personnel.
“As we make efforts to build Nigerian Air Force’s capability for future warfare, we are mindful of the fact that all specialties have a role to play in achieving this ambition.
“Hence, this administration considers value addition to ground training as one of its priorities.
“In this regard, the specialized regiment training is geared towards building force protection capability to better secure our bases and develop special skills for frontline rescue operations,” the CAS said.
He added that efforts were being made to improve competences in a wide range of administrative functions to sustain a highly motivated and effective fighting force.
“The outcome of our training drive is already being seen in the seamless way the Nigerian Air Force conducts its operations across the country,” Abubakar said.
According to him, the NAF is currently reinvigorating some of its capabilities that have declined, developing new ones in line with changing security environment and adapting processes to reflect the broader range of security requirements.
“Similarly, efforts are being made to renovate and reinstall the electronic shooting range in RTC.
“In addition, the Regiment Airborne School would be developed to enable in-house airborne training for regiment personnel and pilots as well as aircrew.
“Also, facilities such as rappelling with insertion and extraction towers would be provided to further develop the regiment air assault training.
“Similar efforts are being made to provide facilities towards improving the quality of training and operational capability across the Nigerian Air Force,” he added.
Abubakar said the NAF had recently taken delivery of 2 additional Diamond-62 (DA-62), and modalities are currently in place to induct the T-129 ATAK Helicopters, to further boost NAF operations.
“Furthermore, the anticipated arrival of an array of new platforms such as the M-346, AH-12, A-109 Trekker, and the remaining T-129 ATAK helicopter will not only bolster NAF operations, but also spill over to improve the security architecture of our dear Nation.
” I am particularly delighted that our foreign counterparts from Ghana Air Force were able to cope with the peculiarities of our environment and have gained from the course.
“For the Nigerian Air Force personnel, I am sure your courses have taken you a step further in your career.”
He charged the personnel to imbibe the core values and attributes of military professionalism which include absolute loyalty, discipline, integrity, physical fitness, motivation, decisiveness, teamwork, and courage among others.
He also urged them to be good ambassadors of the Nigerian Air Force by upholding its tenet of ‘Integrity First, Service before Self and Excellence in all you do’.
The CAS said that the possession of these virtues forms the es-sprit de corps that binds all ranks and specialties in the Service.
“The current leadership of the NAF is committed to enthroning professionalism and as such, the rigorous military training you have received was designed to enhance your skills and performance.
“I implore you to put all that you have learnt during the course to maximum use towards contributing to the attainment of the NAF mission,” he added.
According to him, the Federal Government through appropriate policies has re-ordered its priorities to maximize the use of available resources.
He therefore said that the NAF had also re-strategized to ensure utmost utilization of all equipment and resources provided by the Government.
The CAS said all Nigerian Air Force personnel must continue to live above exexpectations fulfilling the mandate entrusted to them.
Abubakar aappreciated President Bola Tinubu for his unrelenting support to the Nigerian Air Force, and reiterated their unalloyed loyalty to the country.
NAN report that 10 personnel of Ghana Air Force were among the 568 personnel that completed the training.
Prizes were given to those who distinguished themselves during the course. (NAN)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) airstrikes have eliminated scores of terrorists in Kaduna and Zamfara states, and destroyed 25 illegal refining sites in Imo and Rivers States.
The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Gabkwet said the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch had continued in its efforts to track, locate and eliminate the terrorists responsible for the recent upsurge of terrorists’ activities.
He said that intelligence had revealed that terrorists responsible for recent attacks on civilians, abductions and cattle rustling within Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger were domiciled in Kaduna State.
According to him, additional intelligence revealed the sightings of these terrorists relocating from Alawa Forest in Niger, to their stronghold in Malum Forest in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“Consequently, the Air Component planned and executed an Air Interdiction mission on the terrorists’ stronghold at Malum Forest on Aug 21.
“Battle damage assessment and feedback from local sources revealed several of the terrorists were eliminated as a result of the strike.
“Similar strikes were also conducted on terrorists’ hideouts at Bayan Ruwa in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara.
“The terrorists were tracked to the zinc roofed structures in a vegetated area with few footpaths and a river line North West of the location.
“The targets were then acquired and engaged in successive passes,’’ he said.
In the Niger Delta, Gabkwet said that the air component of Operation Delta Safe destroyed 25 illegal refining sites and overhead tanks in Ohaji/Egbema in Imo and Degema and Cawthorne Channel in Rivers.
He said that a leaking pipeline was observed with the leakage spreading across over 150 metres radius in Greenville in Rivers.
According to him, the leakage has its attendant negative consequences on the vegetation, aquatic habitats and farmlands. (NAN)
The Nigerian Army announced on Sunday that its troops had neutralised a notorious Boko Haram commander, Abu Rijab, and other terrorist fighters in an offensive operation on Saturday.This was made known in a post on the Nigerian army’s official X Handle.It said that the operation took place in Bula Daloye, Bama Local Government Area of Borno.
It said the successful operation was in addition to the surrender of numerous terrorists and their families to the troops as a result of sustained pressure against their enclaves. Army said the troops also apprehended several criminal suspects and recovered arms and ammunition.“Following an intense firefight, the troops overpowered the terrorists, neutralising three, including a wanted Boko Haram commander Abu Rijab.“The operation led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and mobile phones.“Additionally, eight terrorists and their families surrendered to troops in Gwoza Local Government Area.“The same troops also apprehended two suspects in Konduga Local Government Area with 52 bags of illicit drugs intended for supply to terrorists,” it said.The post also revealed that troops operating in Taraba apprehended the chairman of Gassol Local Government Area Hunters’ Association, Alhaji Adamu Tanko, for selling an AK-47 rifle to a suspected terrorist.It said that investigation had revealed that the weapon had been recovered during a joint operation against terrorists in Boki Lamba, a border town with Plateau.In Plateau, the service said its troops apprehended two suspected criminal elements in the Rikkos area of Jos North Local Government Area.According to the post, troops recovered a fabricated rifle and mobile phones containing images of various calibres of arms and ammunition.“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has commended the troops for their resilience and commitment.“He also expressed gratitude to the public for their continued support of the Nigerian army, sister services, and other security agencies through credible and actionable information about criminal activities,” it added. (NAN)
The Chief of Air Staff(CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar says the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will continue to take vital steps towards protecting key national assets against criminal elements.
Abubakar stated this at the matriculation and combined graduation of set 2 students of the Nigerian Air Force College of Nursing Science and Critical Assets Protection Squad Course 5, of Regiment Training Centre on Friday in Kaduna.
Abubakar said, “As a fighting force, we shall continue to take vital steps towards protecting our key assets across the country.
”This is not just from agitating demonstrators, but also from terrorists, insurgents, economic saboteurs and other criminal elements in our society.
”We have plans toward improving the efficient and manpower capacity of all personnel of the Nigerian Air Force(NAF).”
He stressed that human beings were the most important in every system.
Abubakar said, “You can have expensive and sophisticated equipment and facilities, if the humans managing the system are not adequately trained and properly motivated, then that system will definitely fail and vice versa.’
He, therefore, said that part of his key enablers command philosophy was deliberate training and mission-oriented force development.
Abubakar said, “This is why we are glad today to have been able to graduate the trainees from the critical assets protection course and the basic nursing course.”
He stressed that the two courses were particularly very important considering the contemporary happenings.
The CAS explained that the critical assets protection course was critical to
NAF, citing the recent protests.
He said, ”They turned violent, accompanied by destruction of government facilities, attacks on some government critical national assets and looting in some states.”
Abubakar, therefore, said the graduates of the critical assets protection course were properly trained and educated to be able to handle such situations.
According to him, the more personnel are trained on the course, the more the NAF would be able to protect the nation’s critical national assets from external aggressors and internal saboteurs, criminals, insurgents, terrorists and their likes.
The CAS also said that considering the exodus of medical practitioners from Nigeria, the basic nursing course would bridge the gap.
Abubakar said, “The more we are able to train doctors and nurses, the faster we close the gaps and make sure we have a very effective and efficient health care system not only for the NAF, but for the whole country at large.
“To the graduates, you must have it at the back of your minds that your profession is a noble calling, requiring compassion, dedication and expertise.”
He reminded the graduates that they were distinct from other healthcare providers.
”You have a wide scope of practice and approach to medical care, just as you play an integral role in promoting health, preventing illness, and caring for all individuals.
”They include those who are disabled or are physically or mentally ill.
“In NAF, you will be the backbone of our medical services, providing critical care to our personnel, their families as well as vulnerable civilians in need of medical attention.
“We have quite a number of civilian students, some of whom we also trained free of charge as part of our corporate social responsibility,”Abubakar said.
He appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support to NAF.
The Report says that awards were given to the graduates who distinguished themselves in the course of study.(NAN)
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