NAF reopens Makurdi Airport; CAS commissions SNCO’s accommodation in Jos

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Thursday, 10 January 2019, undertook an operational visit to the 21 Quick Response Wing (21 QRW) Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base Agatu, Benue State to assess facilities as well as the state of readiness of the troops of the Wing to deal with threats within the area.

While in Benue State, the CAS also declared the Makurdi Military Airfield open to civil flight operations, after the successful completion of repair work on the Runway and ancillary facilities and having addressed all safety concerns.

Before declaring the Runway open to civil flight operations, the CAS was conducted on an inspection tour of the completed works by the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command (AOC TAC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Oladayo Amao, who mentioned that the scope of the rehabilitation work covered refreshing of the sealant for the concrete slab joints on the Runway, Taxiways and Apron as well as the resurfacing of cracked portions of the manoeuvring area, re-marking of the Runway and erosion control, amongst others.

Speaking after the inspection, the CAS commended the AOC TAC for effective supervision of the project and also congratulated the NAF Works Centre Abuja, which had executed the project through direct labour, for doing a good job.

He added that the repairs, which had necessitated the closure of the Airfield to civil flight operations, as published in relevant Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS), were aimed at improving flight safety in accordance with global best practices as well as in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations.

He further stated that a NOTAM had also been promulgated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to reopen the airfield for normal operations.

In Agatu, the CAS was received by the traditional ruler of Agatu, Chief Dr Godwin Ngbede Onah, who conveyed the appreciation of his people to the NAF for its immense contributions to the return of normalcy in the area.

The CAS was thereafter conducted on a tour of some facilities at the 21 QRW Base by the Commanding Officer 21 QRW, Squadron Leader Victor Ajeye, who also briefed him on the activities of the Wing since its activation on 19 October 2018.

Speaking after the brief, Air Marshal Abubakar expressed satisfaction with the level of the facilities so far emplaced while promising that immediate action would be taken to meet the additional needs of the unit.

This, he said, would include the immediate provision of additional equipment and other facilities to enable the Unit’s Medical Station better serve the NAF personnel and members of the host community.

Speaking further, Air Marshal Abubakar thanked the troops for their hard work, diligence and commitment, which had ensured that peace was maintained in Agatu community, thus allowing the people to pursue their legitimate aspirations.

He urged them to remain focused on their tasks while eschewing overtures from any quarters to get involved in duties outside their purview. He reminded them that, as the General Elections draw closer, they must remain apolitical and professional in the performance of their duties while exercising their legitimate rights to vote for the candidates of their choice on Election Day.

The CAS later fielded questions, comments and observations from the troops.

Earlier in his welcome address, the AOC Special Operations Command (SOC), AVM Samson Akpasa, thanked the CAS for his firm commitment to ensuring security, not only in Agatu but also in the entire Nasarawa-Benue States corridor, through the provision of necessary resources to 21 QRW.

He said the commitment of the CAS was evidenced by his frequent visits to the area, this being the third in just 3 months.

He said the effects of the CAS’ commitment and presence of NAF personnel in the area were already being felt because the people of the community were seen carrying out their normal farming activities and harvesting produce as expected.

He pledged the commitment of the personnel to remain professional while ensuring that lives and property of members of the communities within their Area of Responsibility (AOR) remained secure.

The 21 QRW Agatu has, since its establishment, not only been maintaining security in the area but also ensuring good civil-military relations with the host community.

The Wing recently hosted a Medical Outreach from 3 – 8 January 2019, on the directives of the CAS, which had a Team of Medical experts from the Medical Services Branch Headquarters NAF that provided free medical services to nearly 4,000 members of the Agatu Community.

This included about 3,500 general consultations, with free medications provided, as well as 47 minor eye and general surgeries and distribution of 150 insecticide treated mosquito nets and 100 prescription eye glasses, among others.

Also, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) has again charged officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to remain focused and professional in performing their duties of protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

The CAS gave the charge on Thursday, 10 January 2019, while commissioning a newly completed block of 18 units of  2-bedroom flats for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) at 551 NAF Station Jos.

With the commissioning, the effort of the current NAF leadership to increase accommodation sufficiency for personnel has been given a further boost.
 
Represented by the Chief of Administration, Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Lar, the CAS said the project was geared  towards enhancing the welfare of personnel to enable them focus on their tasks while spurring them to do even more in adding value to the Service.

He enjoined the beneficiaries of the new housing unit to make the best use of the facility and ensure that the structure was properly maintained.

The CAS stated that personnel would need to build on the significant successes recorded by NAF aircraft and NAF Special Forces personnel in Operations Sharan Daji, Lafiya Dole and Diran Mikiya in the Northeast and Northwest of the country.

He noted however that these successes would not have been possible without the resolute support of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We are indeed grateful to the government for this support and promise to continue to sustain our efforts towards enhancing a strong and prosperous nation”, he said.
 
In his welcome remarks, the Commander 551 NAF Station Jos, Air Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, said the commissioning was a dream come true for many personnel and their families who would enjoy the new facilities thereby further boosting their morale and willingness to excel on the job.

He said the giant stride taken by the CAS in providing befitting accommodation for personnel was highly commendable.

The accommodation, he said, was one amongst the many positive developments and initiatives of the present NAF leadership which would remain indelible in the minds of the 551 NAF Station Jos Community.

Other dignitaries present at the event included Honorable Luka Madaki, who represented the Plateau State Governor, Barrister Simon Lalong, as well as traditional rulers, senior military officers and heads of paramilitary agencies in Plateau State.

The commissioning brings to 6 the number of housing projects commissioned in NAF Base Jos alone between July 2015 and January 2019.

These include 6 units of 2 bedroom bungalows for Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs), a block of 10 units of one-bedroom Studio Accommodation for NCOs, a block of 30 units of one bedroom high-rise accommodation for NCOs and 6 blocks of 3-bedroom Married Officers’ Quarters (MOQ).

Others are 2 blocks of 10 units of one-bedroom Single Officers’ Quarters (SOQ), a block of 18 units of 2-bedroom flats for SNCOs as well as a newly constructed Mess for NCOs.
 
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