Abuja – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded giant strides in the last one year in the area of fleet acquisition, logistics and infrastructure renewal.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, stated this when he spoke to newsmen as part of activities marking the 51st Anniversary of the NAF in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the giant strides led to the current successful onslaught against Boko Haram terrorists in North East.
He listed these to include acquisition of new aircraft like the King Air 350, Mi-Series Helicopter Gunship, UAVs and DA-42 Diamond Aircraft.
“I am happy to inform you that so much have been achieved for the NAF within the period under review.
“In addition, NAF has installed and programmed newly acquired Harris 7850 multiband radios in the North East to aid operations against insurgency.’’
He also said existing platforms were reactivated and restored.
He said some of the existing platforms reactivated within the period under review included the C-130 aircraft, Super Puma Helicopter Gunship and Do-228.
He added that NAF had been playing a pivotal role in the battle against terrorism.
“It conducted periodic depot maintenance while also providing adequate spares for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance of aircraft.
“NAF has progressively grown to its present enviable position and has proudly justified its existence by performing its constitutional roles.’’
Amosu said that under his command, the force has continued to provide air support through armed reconnaissance, ground attacks, combat air patrol, close air support, intelligence, surveillance as evidenced in the ongoing war against insurgency
He said this support was in addition to establishing four Forward Operational Bases (FOBs), at strategic parts of the country for quick intervention and deployment.
According to him, 123 foreign courses involving 426 persons of different specialties have been conducted while 14 new NAF units have also been established across the country including a Mother and Child Hospital in Badagry.
