President Muhammadu Buhari has praised the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for fulfilling its constitutional duty to protect the country. He also noted that the government’s investments in the NAF in the form of new platforms, other support gear for the military, and other security agencies, as well as the reactivation and upgrading of existing platforms, are well justified.
The President made the revelation in Enugu, at the NAF’s 59th anniversary celebration, where he noted that the decision to prioritize the restoration of military professionalism to enable them to effectively carry out their duties had sufficiently transformed the NAF into a formidable entity, ready to face both present and future challenges.
Speaking at the event, President Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbanjo, noted that the parade and aerial display by officers, airmen, and women aptly demonstrate the NAF’s commitment to achieving high standards of operational readiness and being able to fulfill its constitutional obligations.
He stated that the addition of contemporary equipment like the JF-17 Thunder, A-29 Super Tucano, DA-62 aircraft, T-129 Attack Helicopter, Beechcraft, and unmanned aerial systems during the previous four years had significantly improved the NAF.
The President Buhari added that the massive investments made in the NAF’s capacity development have changed the country’s trajectory in the fight against terrorism and other violent non-state actors.
The Commander-in-Chief praised the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao and his team in particular for their admirable leadership style, which has made the NAF a force to be reckoned with on a global scale. He also praised the renewed emphasis on research, innovation, and self-reliance, highlighting how it has boosted NAF’s confidence in its ability to innovate and use locally developed technology.
In light of this, he urged the NAF to work to increase its partnerships with academic institutions, commercial technological centres, and independent thinkers and artists.
The President thanked the NAF for its assistance, along with that of other security agencies, in resolving security issues across the country and charged NAF officers, airmen, airwomen, and civilian staff to keep up their efforts to win the nation’s trust as they carry out their responsibilities of guarding against and neutralizing threats, both present and future.
