By AbdulRaheem Aodu Kaduna
Following the $2.1 billion armsgate that rocked the military in the last administration, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the federal government had sanitised the military procurement process to prevent corruption. Th e Acting President, who unveiled fi ve new Super Mushshak aircrafts to decisively deal with insecurity challenges including the Boko Haram fi ghters in the Northeast, described the procurement of the aircraft as “timely,” especially with the renewed ambushes by degraded Boko Haram elements in Maiduguri, Borno state.
Represented at the induction of the aircrafts and graduation ceremony of 16 student pilots at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna, by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed DanAli, Osinbajo said: “We have sanitised the procurement process of military hardware with a view to eliminating corruption and ineffi ciency. I make bold to say that we have achieved remarkable savings and infused quality into the system.
“Th is has contributed in no small way to the acquisition of these new aircrafts without any encumbrances. I have no doubt that the acquisition of the Super Mushshak aircraft would add impetus to the training eff orts of 401 FTS. Th is administration is determined to protect everyone living in the country and their property. Th at is why it has taken the issue of insurgency and terrorism very seriously.
” Continuing, he said: “On corruption in the system and Boko Haram, we have re-strategised and all these attacks you see are just sign of weakness and we have been doing a lot to see that all these ambushes come to an end. We also want to train civil defence and police so they can join us where we are and move forward instead of remaining in one place.”
Addressing newsmen shortly after the solo acrobatic display at 401 training command, Kaduna, Chief of Air Staff , Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, said the relocation of service chiefs to Maiduguri has improved the intelligence gathering and fi nal clean up of insurgents in that part of the country.
“Th e NAF aircrafts are roving the air for minimum of nine hours daily to ensure security of lives and property, as well as protection of air asset to guide against reoccurrence of what happened few years ago where insurgents attacked our base in Maiduguri and destroyed some air asset,” he said.
