The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has tasked newly promoted senior officers of the Nigerian Airforce to ensure that their elevation translate to additional security for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Speaking at the decoration ceremony of 13 new Air Vice Marshals and 35 Air Commodores at NAF headquarters on Thursday, the CAS said, “Your promotion will cost tax payers additional resources but this must translate to additional security for Nigeria and Nigerians. Remember, that in the race to add value to our society and secure our communities, there should be no finishing line.”
He continued, “In an increasingly complex security environment where new challenges call for the very best, human capacity development remains one key responsibility of a fighting force.
“Personnel’s skill and commitment on-the-job go a long way to determining the overall success in the transformational drive and repositioning efforts of the Nigerian Air Force into a highly professional and disciplined force that would respond to national security imperatives.
“I need not stress that in the discharge of our professional responsibilities, the demands on members of the Armed Forces are unique.
“It is thus very important that the Services are led by persons with good leadership qualities if we must eliminate or minimize costly mistakes during operations.
“This requirement is even higher in the case of the Air Force which is a highly technical service.
“I am proud to say that we have found these qualities in the 13 air vice marshals and 35 air commodores we have decorated this morning.
“While it is quite important to note that time on rank would, understandably continue to be central, factors such as merit, productivity, establishment vacancy, slots for deployment and, to some extent, geographical spread have combined to raise the bar and make the race even more competitive.
“I therefore urge you to see your promotion as recognition of your professionalism and as being entrusted with the capacity to tackle higher responsibilities.
“Promotion though a reward for hard work, is however considered a privilege and a call for higher responsibilities.
“I therefore charge all the officers decorated today, to brace up for the challenges ahead especially in our collective resolve to regenerate the Nigerian Air Force.
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“We are all aware of the security challenges our dear nation has been battling with.
Since the inception of this administration, you would recall that the Nigerian Air Force has set out to provide the required leadership for the repositioning of the Service into a highly professional and disciplined force.
“It is noteworthy that the aircraft serviceability rate across all NAF platforms has continued to improve. “This is occasioned by regular provision of critical spares and intensive training/retraining of aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians.
“The focus on human capacity development has also led to the achievement of great strides in Research and Development.
“The production of the diaphragm for the Mi-35P helicopter and L39ZA aircraft is an achievement the service is proud of.
“The Service has equally reactivated machine tools workshops both in Makurdi and Lagos so as to improve local fabrication and production of some fast-moving spares.
“Efforts have equally been made to expand the NAF Regiment Specialty with the Force Protection in Complex Air and Ground Environments and Special Operations Force/Special Forces training to equip the personnel with the skills required to adequately protect our bases and critical national assets.
“In terms of flying training, the NAF has winged a total of 101 pilots, out of which 6 are female pilots. This is a remarkable feat in the 55 years history of the Service. All these efforts were deliberate to ensure that the NAF is rapidly transformed and appropriately positioned to meet its constitutional mandate.
“We are glad that these efforts have so far yielded substantial results, and it is quite important to mention that our achievements could not have been possible without the support of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Those decorated AVM are Olasupo Jolasimi, Jack Andrew Yusuf, Austin Imafidon, Oius Oahimiri, Dahart Ladan, Isa Yahaya Mohammed, Cosmas Ozougwu, Sunday Makinde, Garba Abubakar Yusuf, Idris Adamu, Ado Baba Inuwa and Ademola Durotoye.
Among those decorated Air Commodores are Air Commodore Edward Gabquet, Air Commodore W Maigida, Air Commodore Ahmed Idris, Olusola Akinboyewa, Rasheed Abidoye, Isaac Subi, Solomon Lazarus, Ahmed Yusuf Dari, Emeka Ashiebu, Abdusalam Bello, Gambo Adamu, Yohanna Kasabiya, Aliyu Dakwat, Idris Kamat and Friday Epah.
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