By Rita Michael,
Bauchi
The ancient city of Bauchi came to a standstill on Thursday, April 26, 2018, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state.
Commercial activities in Bauchi were shut down as people trooped out the street to welcome the President.
It would be recalled that two previous planned visit by the President were aborted, which caused apprehension before the visit with many doubting if he would honour the visit.
The President, who landed at Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi, at about 10.15am, was received by Governor Mohammed Abubakar in company with Governor of Adamawa State, Senator Jibrilla Bindow.
The president, who proceeded to the NAF base to commission its reference hospital, proceeded to Bauchi after the communing ceremony to pay homage to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Suleiman Adamu.
Among Buhari’s aides, who accompany him, were Ministers of Defence, Mansur Dansur Dan Ali; Education, Malam Adamu Adamu; Woman Affairs, Hajia Aisha Jummai Alhassan; and Special Adviser on Media, Mr Femi Adeshina.
In company with service chiefs including Inspector General of Police, Kpotun Idris; Buhari drove straight to the Special Operations Command of the Nigerian Airfoce.
It was a gridlock from the Abubakar International Airport to Bauchi metropolis following women, men, youth and children that trooped our to welcome the President with many of them on bikes and vehicles chanting “Sai Baba”.
Commissioning the Reference Hospital of the 261 Nigerian Airforce Hospital Bauchi, Buhari said that the establishment of the special operation command of the Nigerian Airforce in Bauchi was in response to current and emerging threat facing the country.
The president stated that the special command which is co-located with the new hospital confirms the administration collective commitment to tackle any threat to the security of the country.
He said, “The Airfoce remains a key component of the armed forces in its constitutional role of providing aid to civil authorities across the country.
“These efforts include surveillance even, security airports, emergency assistance and resettlement of displaced people.
“These laudable efforts will continue in the interest of the country as it is our strategic goals to widen civil -military relationship.
The President said that he was delighted that the hospital, though a military facility, will access civilians in an emergency and acknowledged that the hospital is of international standard.
Buhari said that a counter insurgency efforts were bound to be enhanced by the location of the hospital because of its proximity to the theater of operation, adding that it would reduce the hitherto long distance to 44 Nigerian Army Refrence hospital and Nigeria Airfoce hospital, Kaduna for casualties thus saving time for casualty evacuation.
He therefor urged Nigerian Airforce to put adequate mechanism in place to ensure an enduring and optimal performance of the hospital, adding that it will eventually serve as a precursor to the resets listens of Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) as envisaged in Defence policy of Nigeria.”
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Mashal Abubakar Sadiq, had appreciated the president for the support that the Nigerian Airforce has enjoiyed under his administration, saying, “It has undoubtedly positioned the service to effectively discharge its statutory responsibilities as provided in the constitution .
The Chief of Airforce said that the effect of the President support has manifested in the various theaters of operations especially in the geopolitical zones of the country.
“In the North East alone, the NAF has flown 14.803 flying hours 29 minutes providing close air support, logistic resuply, combat recce /patrols, battle interdiction and ISR roles to create the enabling environment for our ground troops to undertake their operations with little or no hindrance.
The Airforce chief said that the commissioning of NAF Reference Hospital Bauchi by the President was another giant stride of the service under the current administration.
He said though the hospital was established to provide care to personnel of NAF and indeed the armed forces, it’s services have been extended to host community, adding that it will enhance the cordial relationship that exist between the NAF and the host communities.
Abubakar said that NAF embarked on a deliberate upgrade of its medical facility through the enhancement of existing infrastructure, provision of modern equipment, training of existing staff and recruitment of appropriate professionals to bridge the manpower deficiency in our healthcare facilities.
He said, “So far NAF has provided medical care to over 233,720 Internally Displaced Persons through regular medical outreach programs in Brono and Adamawa states as well as the FCT.
“Additionally, the NAF has established Emergency field hospital Dalori and Bama IDP camps and upgraded the state clinic in Maikohi IDP camp in Yola. In the same vein, the NAF has also organised series of surgical programs in which over 1.871 IDPs with eye and other surgical problems were operated and treated free of charge”.
He therefore appreciated the Bauchi state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, and th people of the state for their invaluable support to the Nigrian Airforce and for allocating the huge percel of land where NAF Special Command and 3 units of brigand statue are currently located.
