Air Chief, Sadique Abubakar Lays Foundation for Ultra-Modern 400 Shops Mammy Market at Airforce Base Ikeja; Initiative of NAF Properties Limited.

 The Nigerian Airforce at the weekend commenced modalities for the building of a modern Mammy Market at the Airforce Base in Ikeja, Lagos with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar performing the Ground Breaking Ceremony at the base.

I am most delighted to be present at this auspicious event which is the ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of modern mammy market here in Ikeja, Lagos state.

May I appreciate the Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command and Group Managing Director, NAF, Holdings Company for their laudable efforts which have been instrumental to making this milestone occasion a reality.

In the same vein, I will like to appreciate the fruitful effort of the Managing Director Nigerian Air Force Properties Company Limited and his team for their

Struggle to make this memorable occasion a success.

Indeed it is my honour, to also use this forum to express my immense gratitude to the good people of Lagos State for their hospitality and support in ensuring the smooth takeoff of the new mammy market.

I wish to posit without doubt that the Nigerian Air Force has continued to enjoy the peace and hospitality which Lagos State is known to always provide for all.

I want to particularly appreciate the esteemed presence of the members of Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA), Airmen’s Wives Association (AWA) and very senior military officers, both serving and retired as well as other distinguished guests who have graciously honoured our invitation. We are indeed grateful.

It is no secret that we live in perilous times with several challenges.

The impact of global socio-economic challenges on our daily lives further includes domestic stress rising from demand and supply of our daily needs.

We need markets to create an interaction that will lead to the ultimate desired goal in our daily lives.

Anyone with a product or service cannot expect that a customer will look for your goods at your home

regularly.

This underscores the need for a modern market with standard facilities to satisfy the needs of personnel and other beneficiaries from our host community.

It is against this backdrop that the NAF Properties

Company Ltd embarked on aggressive projects to provide better mammy market facilities in Nigerian Air Force Bases around the country.

Accordingly, establishment of the modern mammy market in the Nigerian Air Force Base Ikeja was considered.

The design of the new mammy market was conceived to meet modern standards and in conformity with the Nigerian Air Force culture of excellence.

There will be no more room for criminal elements to be harbored as the facility is designed to professional standards with adequate provisions to cater for all our social needs.

Moreover, to ensure the high standards which the NAF is always proud to be associated with, our personnel and our immediate friends would be given

prime priority to acquire and operate the new market facilities.

I therefore challenge you all to subscribe to another NAF success story by making maximum use of this laudable opportunity.

Earlier, Managing Director, NAF properties Limited, Air Commodore MA Tanko said, “I am most delighted to welcome you on behalf of the officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the Nigerian Air Force Properties Limited to this auspicious occasion – the ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of the new modern mammy market here at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja, Lagos.

“I humbly welcome the Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar ably represented by the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal IJ Yahaya and other eminent invited guests who found time to honour our invitation despite their tight schedule.

“It is therefore my honour, to express our profound appreciation to this August gathering for supporting the Nigerian Air Force towards ensuring the immediate takeoff of this project.

“I wish to also recognize and welcome the Comdt Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Oshodi, Air Vice Marshal AA Jekenu and commanders of co-located units in Lagos Area for honoring our invitation and taking time to grace this occasion.

May I also, in the same vein welcome military officers, serving and retired as well as other invited guests who have always identified with the Nigerian Air Force.

Your highly esteemed presence has added colour to this occasion and is a testament to the support and encouragement to our cause for which we are indeed highly honoured.

 It is a truism that welfare is a morale boaster to personnel. This I believed underlies the infrastructural development drive of this present administration.

Consequently, one of the key important drivers of the CAS in achieving his vision is to reinforce a culture of self-reliance and prudent management of resources.

As part of the several efforts to consolidate on the remarkable achievements of the current administration on personnel welfare, the NAF Properties Limited keyed into the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff by desiring to construct about 400 locked up shops with modern market facilities to serve the Nigerian Air Force personnel in Lagos and members of its host community.

The ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of 400 locked up shop in Sam Ethnan Air Force Base mammy market Ikeja today therefore officially marks the beginning of the construction works of the new modern mammy market in Ikeja, Lagos.

The construction of this modern market will boost and enrich the confidence of our families as we leave them at home and move from one place to another to defend our father land.

The market will continue to provide services and support to ownpersonnel, families and members of its host community in Lagos.

It is also important to add that the establishment of this market is a practical demonstration of the commitment of the Nigerian Air Force to its ethos aptly captured in the Chief of the Air Staff Vision for the Nigerian Air Force which is ”to reposition the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives”.

It is therefore no gain saying that the construction of the Market is in-line with the current administrations highly laudable efforts to improve personnel welfare and quality infrastructural development to its personnel.

The essence of constructing this market is to provide support and reduce stress in terms of proximity and timeliness to meet our daily needs. This will greatly reduce the chance of personnel and their families going to town for purchases or engaging in business activities.

It is therefore my singular honour and privilege to welcome the Chief of Air Staff and distinguished members of his entourage, Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Commanders and other distinguished invited guests to the ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of mammy market Lagos. We are profoundly honoured by your presence and for making today a success.

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