The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has charged personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) dedicated themselves more dedicated to duty and sustain their efforts towards adding value to the Service.
He said it is through that the NAF would continue to grow in strength and be more effective in the discharge of its constitutional roles for a more peaceful and secure Nigeria.
Air Marshall Abubakar gave the charge Wednesday at the inauguration of three newly remodeled and renovated blocks of flats for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) at the NAF Base Makurdi.
The project, which is aimed at enhancing the welfare of personnel, will further reduce accommodation deficiencies in NAF Base, Makurdi, according to CAS who was represented at the event by the NAF Chief of Logistics (CLOG), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Mohammed Yakubu.
The Air Chief said the provision of more decent accommodation for personnel at NAF Base, Makurdi was in line with the drive of the current NAF leadership to ensure that the welfare of all personnel is accorded priority attention.
He noted that this was premised on the comprehensive approach the NAF has adopted towards ensuring the security of Nigeria and Nigerians, which he said involved acquisition of new aircraft, reactivation of existing, training for enhanced professional performance, and ensuring the welfare of the personnel.
“Accordingly, the welfare and wellbeing of our officers, airmen, airwomen and their families has remained a prime consideration during each budgeting cycle,” the CAS said. “The NAF Administration has therefore focused on the provision of befitting accommodation for the personnel, development of educational infrastructure for more qualitative education for the children and wards of personnel as well as the upgrade of medical facilities for the provision of quality healthcare”, he added.
The Air Chief said the NAF had executed several projects, which include the construction of new facilities as well as the rehabilitation and upgrade of existing ones.
“We are determined to continue this way until all our personnel and their families are adequately accommodated and our Bases adorned with high-quality and modern facilities that meet the international standards we all desire”, he assured.
The CAS noted that the projects being inaugurated were among dilapidated airmen’s accommodations selected for rehabilitation and upgrade as part of the Year 2020 capital budgetary provision for the upgrade and rehabilitation of existing Barracks infrastructure. He added that similar projects were recently completed and commissioned in Ikeja, Lagos, while others were nearing completion in Kainji, Kaduna and other locations.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander 151 Base Services Group Makurdi, Air Commodore Anthony Martins, who was represented by Group Captain Stephen Nwachi, said projects were “clear testaments to the CAS’ commitment to enhancing the welfare of the personnel for optimal service delivery.”
He promised that the beneficiaries, would use the renovated accommodations responsibly.
