The Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau (Rtd) has called for greater collaboration among the armed forces in the fight against insurgents in the country.
Gusau made the call on Monday in Abuja at a dinner and award night to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and also to honour the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Badeh, on his elevation.
Aliyu Gusau
The minister commended the Nigerian Air Force for its support and participation in “operations” within and outside Nigeria.
He said that the force, in the last 50 years, had proved itself to be a competent force to rely on and reckon with.
“The Air Force has achieved many successes in transporting our troops and provided logistic services to the National Emergency Management Agency.
“I have not known of any Air Force in the world that is as versatile as our Nigerian Air Force which operates 16 different types of aircraft.
“I will like to use this opportunity to congratulate officers, airmen and women of the Nigerian Air Force for the services they are rendering to our nation,” he said.
The minister said the successes recorded so far were due to the good leadership of the force and the training of its personnel.
The minister commended the leadership style of and performance of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
“For those retiring, you are still in the reserve for the next three years, so be rest assured that the Air Force and the nation can call you to come back when necessary.
“I will like to convey the greetings of the president to the air men and women as you celebrate 50.
Also speaking, Badeh said that his tenure as the Chief of Air Staff was challenging but exciting.
Badeh said the tenure was challenging because it coincided with the largest deployment of aircraft, assets and personnel outside the shores of the country since the end of ECOMOG operations in Liberia and Sierra-Leone.
“It also marked the heightened increase in the deployment of assets and personnel to the North East in support of the ongoing insurgency operations.
“In spite of these challenges, however, we were able to record some modest achievements by building upon the foundation that had to be laid by my predecessor.”
Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, said that the NAF had a lot to celebrate.
He said barely two years after its establishment, the service was faced with the daunting challenge of the civil war, in spite of its inexperience.
Amosu said that with the limited resources available, the force creditably played its role for the unity of the nation.
He said at the end of the civil war, NAF continued to develop and by the late 1980s, it was the `toast’ of the African continent.
He said that sadly, the shining era was followed by a period of decline which lasted until the 21st century.
“Notwithstanding these challenges, we have retained the capability to retain the protection of Nigeria’s territorial integrity both at home and abroad.”
The Nigerian Air Force was established in April 18, 1964.
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