By Longtong Yakubu,
Nigeria’s Minister of Defense, Major Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), has applauded the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) for its effort at stemming the tide of insecurity in the country in the last 58 years.
According to Maj. Gen. Magashi, the Nigerian Air force just like any other Air Force around the world, is limited by several factors, but has since inception commendably carried out its core function of protecting the Nation’s air space and providing support for the security forces.
The Minister stated this at a pulling out seminar for members of 35th and 36th RC, which is part of the lineup of activities to mark the 58th Anniversary of the Nigeria Air force (NAF) in Kano, with the theme, “Enhancing the Nigeria Air Force Operational Efficiency in Joint Operation for effective response to Contemporary National Security Imperative.”
He said, “Our Air Force have displayed the highest level of professionalism and ensure great resourcefulness in area of man power management, research and development as well as air operation.
“I must therefore applaud the Nigerian Air Force for its contribution and effort at stemming the tide of insecurity in our dear nation in the last 58 years.
While reiterating Federal Government’s commitment at ensuring efficiency in the Armed forces, the Minister pointed out that, government is determined to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that, Air Force and the entire Armed forces are able to effectively defend the nation and are able to effectively meet its defense needs.
“Accordingly, the government has comitted substantial resources in enhancing the overall capabilities of the armed forces.
“Today the fleet of NAF has been reinforced on several platforms which has improved intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance as well as attack capabilities in extending the reach of our Armed forces.
“It is important to use occasion such as this to appreciate our officers and men who are out there in the various theatre of operation working tirelessly to keep us safe. We are grateful for their sacrifices and we pray to God to keep them safe and protect them,” the Minister prayed.
Earlier in his Opening remarks, Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, noted that the security situation in Nigeria as well as the rapidly changing dynamics in the approach to warfare requires that the NAF will continue to involve strategies to effectively address contemporary National security imperatives.
In a related development the Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA) in its humanitarian outreach to commemorate theNAF day reached out to 100 widows with assorted food items.
Some of the widows who spoke to Africa Prime News expressed happiness over the kind gesture of NAFOWA and prayed for more blessings upon the NAF.
“These days, you can hardly see someone that will give you a plate of rice, but see today we are given a bag of rice and other food stuffs. We are grateful and very happy,” one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Maria said.
Each widow was given a 50kg of rice, 10ltrs of vegetable oil, 10kg of beans, sugar, beverage, milk, a cartoon of noodle, a pack of pasta, and a 10kg of semolina.
