The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is set to mark its 55th anniversary in grand style.
In the past two years, it has inducted 92 fighter pilots and added 16 brand new aircraft to its fleet.
Between now and 2020, 18 brand new aircraft of various categories are expected to be acquired following President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval, the NAF announced yesterday.
It hailed the President for his support, saying the NAF would continue to show appreciation for the investment of his administration in the force for the peace, unity and security of the nation.
Addressing reporters on the activities lined up for this year’s celebration, the chairman of the celebrations committee, Air Commodore Nnamdi Ananaba said the celebration would hold in Abuja from April 27 to 29.
The air commodore said this year’s edition, tagged: NAF@55, would enable the Air Force to show Nigerian taxpayers what their air force is capable of, besides providing a good opportunity to reflect on how far it has come over the years.
“The celebration is scheduled to take place in Abuja from April 27 to 29. It presents the NAF a good opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as an air force. It would also enable the NAF to show the Nigerian taxpayers what their air force is capable of.
“With a hind sight, we realise that the NAF has a lot to celebrate and showcase. From being a service, which, during the Civil War, rolled bombs out of aircraft by hand to one that is highly professional and equipped with advanced aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capable of precision strikes from as far away as 250 kilometres, there has obviously been a remarkably change, much of which was achieved within the last three and a half years,” Ananaba said.
He noted that under the leadership of Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the NAF recorded significant milestones in different areas, particularly in the acquisition and reactivation of aircraft, expansion of its organisational structure and improved training and building capacity.
The committee chairman lauded the leadership of the air force for enhancing its capability to “more effectively deal with Nigeria’s peculiar security challenges, such as insurgency, oil theft, banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling, amongst others”.
