By Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya,
Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Saturday visited Nigerian Air Force (NAF) frontline troops serving in Yola.
During the visit, he held interactive sessions with the officers and airmen/airwomen in the operational theatre during which he appreciated their sacrifices and also urged them to remain highly professional.
The sessions also enabled him to receive direct feedbacks from the personnel and respond as necessary. Furthermore, the visit provided the opportunity to commission the recently expanded medical facilities at the 163 NAF Hospital Yola. The expansion entails the building of an additional ward, dedicated for officers’ use, and the procurement of additional medical equipment for the hospital.
The expansion of the medical facilities followed the need to further improve medical care for the frontline personnel serving in Yola, who are playing a critical role in the ongoing counterinsurgency operation in the Northeast.
The CAS led …the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, who was represented by the Deputy Governor … Honourable Martins Babale, and other dignitaries to commission the new ward in the hospital.
Other projects across the collocated units at NAF Base Yola, all aimed at improving personnel welfare, were equally commissioned today. The projects include 2 blocks of 10 x one studio apartment for airmen/airwomen and 10 x one Single Officers’ Quarters for officers.
While commissioning the projects, the Adamawa State Governor noted, with satisfaction, the several developmental projects already witnessed at NAF Base Yola under the current NAF leadership.
He added that not only had the projects gone a long way in boosting personnel welfare but also contributing to overall development in the State. He therefore commended Air Marshal Abubakar for his apparent commitment, resilience and prudent use of resources.
He also urged the personnel to make judicious use of the new facilities while announcing that Adamawa State would continue to support the NAF to ensure the achievement of its goals, including attainment of security in the Northeast.
He seized the opportunity to disclose that the State had secured the approval to build an airport at Mubi and that the airport would be collocated with the NAF Detachment in Mubi, to complement NAF efforts in the area.
In his remarks, the CAS stated that, as a way of realizing his vision for the NAF, the Service had been restructured for enhanced operational effectiveness. He further stated that necessary platforms and equipment were being acquired and reactivated while training was receiving optimum attention.
He added that, in recognition of the importance of the human being, the welfare of personnel was also being considerably looked after, in line with the policy directive of President Buhari.
According to him, that was why resources had been expended in building additional residential accommodation and expanding the medical facilities for the frontline personnel in Yola.
He also disclosed plans to expand the NAF secondary school in Yola to ensure that the wards of the personnel and members of the host community receive quality education.
He then thanked President Buhari for the immense support being given to the NAF. In addition, he thanked the Adamawa State Governor and the people of Adamawa State for their support and hospitality. He then promised that the NAF would continue to work with other security agencies in the State to enhance security in Adamawa State and environs.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander 153 Base Services Group Yola, Air Commodore Anthony Ndace, stated that it was heartwarming to note that the NAF leadership had made the welfare of personnel a priority, a development, which he noted had enhanced professionalism, commitment and optimum service delivery. The CAS and his team of officers from Headquarters NAF have since returned to Abuja.