NAF begins local fabrication of aircraft

Nigerian Air Force says it will commence local fabrication of aircraft, owing to its recent resuscitation of Machine Tools Workshop at it Base in Makurdi, Benue State.
NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya said in a statement that this is line with the ongoing efforts towards robust logistics support and maintenance culture to sustain platforms and equipment serviceability, as part of the visions of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
According to the Adesanya said the Chief of Air Staff noted that the workshop would increase self-sufficiency, reduce dependence on foreign organisations for maintenance of military hardware and saving of foreign exchange for Nigeria.
He said the workshop would enable the fabrication of some aircraft parts, thereby facilitating effective and efficient repairs of especially aircraft airframes.
He said the machine tools workshop would be “invaluable” to some of the processes through which the NAF sustains its equipment and platform serviceability.
He said: “The event, which took place at 131 Engineering Group, Makurdi, is one of the numerous benefits from the strategic partnerships between the NAF and several universities in Nigeria, as facilitated by the incumbent NAF leadership.
“Other benefits derived from the collaboration include the modification of the antiskid system of the Alpha Jet aircraft, construction of test benches, receipt of 2 patent rights and emergence of the NAF as the best overall research institution at the 2017 Nigeria Technology and Innovation Expo, among others.”
He said more than six research projects are also currently ongoing in partnership with universities and research institutions in the country, which conforms with the NAF leadership of “strategic partnership with MDAs for enhanced Research and Development.”
According to Adesanya, the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Idris, thanked the NAF leadership for ensuring the reactivation of the machines in the Workshop, through collaboration with the University of Maiduguri, 25 years after they were abandoned.
He said the machines were renovated in a record time of four weeks and at a much lower amount compared to the quotations received from different companies.
“The commissioning ceremony was also used to induct the first set of trainees to benefit from the newly introduced Machinist Course. The successful trainees would later operate the equipment in the new Workshop and similar workshops in the NAF,” he said.