The Honourable Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd), has commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for its operational successes.
Speaking at the Inter-Command Doctrine Penetration Competition to flag off activities marking the NAF’s 59th anniversary celebration, Gen Magashi attributed recent operational achievements to the Services commitment to enhancing professionalism in the application of air power.
The Defence Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, commended the idea behind the doctrine penetration competition, which he noted will help to the culture of air-mindedness among NAF personnel.
He described the theme of the NAF’s 59th-anniversary celebration, which is Doctrinal Imperatives for Successful NAF Air Operations, as apt as it would address operational challenges being experienced in the field.
“To sustain NAF’s achievements in the light of the daunting security challenges in the country, the Service has the onerous responsibility of continually teaching and sufficiently exposing the personnel to its operational doctrines through practice, noting that this will undoubtedly help to inculcate the tenets in the personnel while broadening their knowledge and understanding of NAF doctrines for successful operations,” Gen Magashi stated.
Speaking further, Gen Magashi stated that the Federal Government has committed substantial national resources to enhance the overall capabilities of the Armed Forces in a bid to address the security challenges in various parts of the country.
He, therefore, urged the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, to sustain the many achievements of the Service, while commending his innovative initiatives and transformational leadership of the NAF.
In his remark, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao said the recent doctrinal effort by the NAF is meant to provide enduring principles for the effective employment of airpower in a joint environment.
Amao stated that the promulgation of new doctrines, and his establishment of the Air Warfare Centre to inculcate in NAF personnel the knowledge of operational doctrines, noting that the NAF plan to establish Air Power Centre of Excellence, which on completion, would accommodate the Institute of Air Power Studies, Air War College, Air Warfare Centre and a Museum.
“The Centre of Excellence would facilitate greater understanding of national security in aerospace issues amongst the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the strategic community and the public and this, on actualization, would contribute to the national security and improve synergy among the Armed Forces and other security agencies,” Air Mshl Amao noted.
