By Tope Sunday Abuja–
Chief of the Air Staff , Air Vice-Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has called for United States (US) support for the supply of aircraft spare parts, specialised equipment and aircraft to fi ght terrorism in the country. Abubakar, however, acknowledged the support the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had received in the area of training, saying that the gesture had aided the Force’s contributions to the fi ght against terrorism. A statement issued by the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, said Abubakar spoke in Abuja when the new United States Defence Attaché (DA) to Nigeria, Colonel Jason Nicholson, paid him a courtesy visit.
“Th e Chief Staff Air reiterated his belief that no single nation could possibly fight terrorism alone and hence, the need to develop the right partnerships. “The NAF would continue to count on the support of the United States government to facilitate the supply of the required aircraft spares, specialised equipment and aircraft, towards completely eradicating terrorism in Nigeria”, he said. In his response, the statement added that the CAS expressed happiness with the current nature of interactions between the NAF and the United States Embassy in Nigeria.
He also said that under President Muhammadu Buhari, substantial progress had been made in the fight against terrorism and that much more could be achieved, especially with availability of the right platforms and equipment’. Th e CAS also seized the opportunity to highlight some of the humanitarian intervention the NAF had done in North-east and other parts of the country as part of the strategy towards winning the hearts and minds of the populace. Th e Defence Attaché, pledged readiness to further boost the relationship between Nigeria and his country, with a view to enhancing the NAF’s operations.
