The Nigerian Air force has immortalized late Squadron Leader BB Ado, and Flying Officer AJ Layelmenson, two pilots of the Alpha jet fighter aircraft who lost their lives during a military operation to stop terrorists backed rebels from over running the administration of Mali in 2013.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar who immortalized the officers by naming newly constructed Transit and Married Officers blocks of flats after them as the NAF Base, Abuja, said, “The two blocks of flats have been appropriately named after our two gallant officers who died while on active duty during AFISMA in 2013”.
Sadique pointed out that the “Two young officers paid the supreme sacrifice while carrying out the noble task of projecting our nation’s interest, hence the need to immortalize them”.
“This is in consonance with this administration’s efforts at preserving the memories of our fallen heroes and heroines” he added.
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On the accommodation proper, the Air Chief said Squadron Leader Ado’s block will be used as a permanent accommodation for married officers while Flying Officer Layelmenson’s block will be used as transit quarters for officers.
The CAS expressed the hope that the construction of the new blocks of flats which was done through direct labour will go a long way in reducing the challenges being experienced with residential accommodation in the NAF especially in Abuja.
Air Marshal Abubakar used the occasion to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the constant support to the Nigerian Air Force assuring the President that “The NAF will remain loyal to the nation and in the sustenance of our democracy”.
Earlier, Chief of Administration, NAF HQ, Air Vice Marshal Lawal Shittu Alao noted that owing to recent assessment of the accommodation challenges in the NAF, about 63 per cent Airforce personnel are currently having adequate accommodation.
“When compared to the fact that only about 40 personnel were accommodated about 20 months ago, one can say the current Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar has raised the bar”.
Nothing that only about 3 percent of NAF officers were yet to be accommodated, the AVM Alao stated that the remaining per cent of those not in barracks were being accommodated in secured accommodation as a stop gap measure.
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