multi-purpose helicopter for improved and efficient operations in the
country.
Performing the ceremony in Makurdi, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air
Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the additional platform would
significantly add value to its ongoing operations in the country.
Represented by AVM Mohammed Idris, the Chief of Policy and Planning, NAF
Headquarters, Sadique said the new platform would help NAF’s operations
in North East, North West, and North Central.
He said the newly inducted platform was a multi-purpose aircraft that
could be used for wide-range operations.
He said “This additional platform will significantly add value to our
operational efforts, constitutional duty and assure the security of our
nation.
“We will continue to be creative and innovative to provide the necessary
capacity and support system to meet the revolving asymmetric warfare of
the terrorists.”
He said that NAF had retrained over 105 pilots, both within and outside
the country, while upgrading another 266 pilots on policies and
programmes.
Sadique added that the Air Force had enhanced its capacity by training
its personnel on robust maintenance of equipment.
In his address, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Tactical Air Command,
Makurdi, AVM Olusegun Philips, said NAF would continue to be loyal to
the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu
Buhari.
Philips also said the personnel would continue to remain dedicated to
their duties to keep the flag of NAF flying.
He assured that the newly acquired Mi-171-E- NAF 582 would be put into
good use to achieve NAF operational effectiveness and efficiency.
He said the induction of the new platforms would continue to impact
positively on NAF operational capability, especially in the Command’s
effort in the ongoing counter-terrorism/counter-insurgency operations in
the country. (NAN)