The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has charged the 12 newly winged combat pilots from the Basic Flying Course-20 at the 403 Flying Training School, Kano to justify the efforts and resources invested in their training by joining hand to curb crimes.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, gave this charge in a statement on Thursday
The CAS urged them to contribute their best towards sustaining the successes recorded in the various theatres of operation within the country.
Abubakar disclosed that the NAF had continued to conduct independent and joint operations targeting at combating the criminals and denying them freedom of action as well as shaping the operational environment in the various theatres.
He noted that this could only be achieved with the injection of new and vibrant pilots to add energy and bite to the operations.
Abubakar said the new combat pilots were being injected at a time when NAF had immensely benefitted from the Federal Government’s commitment to providing necessary platforms and equipment in the fight against terrorism, insurgency and other forms of criminality.
Abubakar stressed that the acquisition of new platforms comes with the attendant consequences on manpower, training, and operating costs.
“This challenge is further exacerbated by the anticipated arrival of an array of new platforms such as the M-346, AH-1Z, A-109 Trekker, and the remaining T-129 ATAK helicopters.
“For NAF to bridge the manpower gaps currently experienced, a three-year training plan to commence from January 2024 must be sustained amid the availability of funding.
“It is in view of this projection that the graduation of the Basic Flying Course 20 is gladdening, as it serves to bridge the pilot deficiency gap.”
The CAS further informed the newly winged pilots of the current security environment, which according to him, had remained fluid and unpredictable due to threats posed by terrorists in the North as well as an upsurge in banditry and kidnapping activities across the country.
He said there still exist some threats to Nigeria’s unity and co-existence as posed by secessionist groups in the South-East, just as the theft of crude oil in the South-South has continued to threaten the economic well-being of the country.
He charged the pilots to be aware that the journey was far from over, hence the need to continually strive to elevate the NAF to greater heights.
The Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command, AVM Nnamdi Ananaba, had earlier said the graduation represented the final phase of a series of training activities aimed at producing fully qualified pilots for the NAF.
