By Kasim Alkali
Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has highlighted the significant achievements of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, over the past year, while also reaffirming his commitment to intensify efforts against terrorism, insurgency, and other security threats.
He made this known on Wednesday, during his meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, Directors, Commandants and Commanders at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja.
“There is no gainsaying that the NAF must be proactive and intensify its efforts to meet the Federal Government and Nigerian citizens’ expectations for an expeditious actualization of a peaceful, safe, and secure nation for prosperity to thrive,” he said.
Air Marshal Abubakar also took a cursory look at the global and regional security environment with their attendant impacts on Nigeria’s national security.
In particular, he noted the upsurge in coup d’etat in the West African sub-region as well as the withdrawal of some nations from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, which have negative impacts on the collective regional security architecture.
Similarly of concern, according to the CAS, was the withdrawals of UN troops from MINUSMA, 2000 Chadian troops from Mali as well as Niger Republic troops from the Multi-National Joint Task Force which have the tendency to aggravate the security challenges in the Sahel Region, causing the influx of more weapons and terrorists into Nigeria.
These security situations, he went on, have necessitated the need for the NAF and other security agencies to be proactive and intensify efforts at meeting the Federal Government and Nigerian citizens’ expectations for an expeditious actualization of a peaceful, safe and secure nation for prosperity to thrive.
He then noted that despite these threats, the NAF has, in the last 12 months, re-strategized and adopted new air power measures to enhance the gains against identified threats. Elaborating on his command philosophy backed by 5 key enablers, he highlighted that these strategic measures have led to modest yet significant progress in various operational areas, including the fight against insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and oil theft.
Despite these achievements, the CAS acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by Nigeria’s harsh economic realities, including high youth unemployment, increasing inflation, and multi-dimensional poverty. These factors, he observed, have exacerbated the security situation, making it imperative for the NAF to continuously adapt and improve.
Air Marshal Abubakar also took the opportunity to commend the efforts of NAF personnel, expressing his gratitude for their support since he assumed office stating that, “the NAF, so far, has achieved modest yet significant progress in fighting insurgency, terrorism, banditry, oil theft, and other criminal activities in the country. Therefore, I wish to use this opportunity to commend you all for your efforts. I also sincerely thank you for your support over the last 12 months since my assumption of office.”