President
Muhammadu Buhari has retooled the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) with two new Mi35
combat helicopters to boost the anti-terrorism fight in the North East
.
The Guardian
learnt that the aircraft, capable of night battles, were procured from Russia
and delivered on April 30 this year.
At the
commissioning to mark NAF’s 54th anniversary in Kaduna at the weekend, Buhari
reiterated his administration’s commitment to take Nigeria to the next level.
Represented
by the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Mansur Dan-Ali, the President noted that
the force had undergone several developmental stages, adding that government
had over the year’s acquired weapons in order to perform its roles effectively.
He said:
“The acquisition of the new weapons has arisen the need to train personnel to
man and maintain the aircraft, and the Nigerian Air Force has in the last two
years recruited over 5000 to adequately boost its human capacity, while
creating jobs for unemployed youths.”
Commending
the leadership of the force and other security agencies for their efforts
towards defeating the Boko Haram sect and other threats to the nation’s
corporate existence, the President stated that his administration remained
resolute to the overall development of the country.
Read More:
Buhari unveils two attack helicopters in Kaduna
The Chief of
Air Staff, (CAS), Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, noted that the equipment would
significantly boost the effectiveness and strengthen capability of the force,
especially in the counter-insurgency operations in the North East.
He said the
gap between force projection and protection had been substantially bridged with
the training of about 1000 special forces.
His words:
“The growth of the NAF since the inception of the current administration has
been particularly outstanding. Hitherto, 12 grounded aircraft have been
reactivated while personnel strength has been increased by 7,500 men and 400
officers.
“Two commands
and two new branches have been established as well as new platforms acquired
and inducted into the service to meet the evolving security challenges we are
faced with.”
In a related
development, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has assured
Nigerians that the military would stabilise security nationwide.
Consequently,
he has directed troops on peace mission to fish out the perpetrators of the
killings in parts of the federation.
Speaking
yesterday at the palace of the Aku-Uka of Wukari in Taraba State, Dr. Shakaru
Angyu Mansa-Ibi, the military chief noted: “The Nigeria Army will do everything
possible to keep the pace of the country.”
Also
yesterday, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)
worldwide, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, enjoined President Muhammadu Buhari to
heed the advice of his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, by ending the
carnage in the land.
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