Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar says the Nigerian Airforce has embarked on restructuring to ensure more effectiveness of its officers and men.
Abubakar stated this while celebrating the Eid-El-Kabir with officers and men of the Air Component of Operation “Lafiya Dole” at the Yola Airforce base.
Owolabi Adenusi reports that the Chief of Air Staff directed that the remaining Boko Haram fighters should be flushed out of their various hideouts in the Sambisa forest.
The air force boss issued the directive at Yola Air Force base where he expressed satisfaction with their performance and urged them to double their efforts.
He added that while the terrain constituted challenges to other sister agencies, it ought not to be so in the deployment of air power.
Abubakar said the ongoing restructuring would place the force in a better position to deliver on its responsibilities.
He explained that part of the restructuring exercises has enabled the force to have two more commands – Special Operations and Ground Training Commands.
The CAS who harped on the ongoing training and retraining of NAF personnel to meet current challenges assured that very soon, the era of graduated flying officers and Lieutenants learning how to fly would be over.
He reiterated the commitment of the current NAF administration to continue providing necessary training, adequate equipment and boost the welfare of personnel and their dependants.
Also speaking, the Commanding Officer Tactical Air Command, AVM M.A. Idris, Head of Training, AVM A. Balogun and the Yola Base Commander, Air Commodore Abdullahi Kassimu, lauded the CAS for his commitment to professionalism and the welfare of officers and men, assuring him of more commitment to duty.
Air Marshal Abubakar also participated in Jumaat prayers with the troops at the Barrack mosque where prayers were offered to troops in the region.
Chief Imam of the mosque tasked the air force men to carry out their responsibilities with the fear of God and diligence.
With the renewed commitment of the men of the Nigerian Air force Boko Haram’s days are certainly numbered.
