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  • Breaking: NAF special forces storm Gusau, Zamfara state

    Breaking: NAF special forces storm Gusau, Zamfara state

    Following the recent attack on Bawan Daji community in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State where some lives were lost, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, directed that Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Special Forces be deployed to Gusau, as part of efforts to stop the incessant banditry attacks.

    Accordingly, the NAF Special Forces, who were trained in asymmetric warfare, were airlifted from Kaduna with the NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft to complement the efforts of other security forces on ground to prevent further attack on innocent citizens.

    TheNewsGuru reports the personnel and other supporting staff would operate from the recently established 207 Quick Response Group in Gusau, where they would reinforce the existing Regiment personnel in the Unit in support of the ongoing Operation SHARAN DAJI in the State.

    In his address to the troops at Gusau shortly before their deployment earlier today, the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command, Air Vice Marshal Ismaila Kaita, announced that the Special Forces would be further deployed to remote areas of Zamfara State, where they would be engaged in Internal Security operations.

    He therefore further urged them to effectively utilize their experience and training to protect the lives and properties of the people of Zamfara State.

    He added that the NAF leadership expects the Special Forces to exhibit the highest standards of professionalism and respect for human rights in discharging their duties.

    In recent times, the NAF has taken additional measures to enhance its contributions to tackling Internal Security challenges in the country, in fulfilment of its constitutional responsibility.

    In addition to earlier established Quick Response Groups and Wings and the deployment of NAF Special Forces to various states, the NAF recently established Quick Response Wings at Agatu, Doma and Nguroje in Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba States respectively to bring security closer to those in the relatively remote areas.

     

  • Uyo to host third edition of NAF inter-command combat sports

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has completed plans to hold the third edition of the NAF inter-command combat sports competition from 3rd to 6th April 2018 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
    The sport competition, which is tagged Uyo 2018, is part of efforts aimed at continually promoting combat fitness and esprit-de-corps among personnel.
    NAF objective is to enhance effective service delivery, which can only be achieved when personnel are physically and mentally fit. This was revealed during a press briefing held, today 29 March 2018, at the MD Umar Blue Room, Headquarters NAF.
    While briefing the press, the Chairman Organising Committee of the 2018 NAF Inter-Command Combat Sports Competition, Air Commodore Mfon Ekpoh, reiterated the commitment of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, towards ensuring that all NAF personnel are physically fit and mentally alert.
    He further stated that the importance of sporting activities to military operations cannot be overemphasized. According to him, this belief informed the decision of the current NAF leadership to embark on renovation, upgrading and construction of new sporting facilities across various NAF Bases to encourage regular physical fitness exercises among personnel.
    The Chairman noted that the 2018 NAF Inter Command Combat Sports Competition would be a symbol of regimentation, as it is also designed to test the combat readiness of personnel in a competitive manner while simultaneously promoting participation in sporting activities.
    Air Commodore Ekpoh added that the 2018 edition of the event would draw participants from HQ NAF, Tactical Air Command, Special Operations Command, Mobility Command, Air Training Command, Ground Training Command and Logistics Command as well as Direct Reporting Units.
    The teams will be competing in various games, which include combat swimming, combat relay race, taekwondo, tug of war, obstacle crossing and shooting competition. Athletes who stand out during the competition will cart away medals with an opportunity to represent the NAF and possibly the nation in future competitions.
    The Chairman equally announced that the City of Uyo and its environs will witness considerable movement of troops and military equipment deployed for the competition within the scheduled period.
    He therefore urged the general public not to panic or entertain any form of fear when they see movement of troops and equipment throughout the period, particular during the shooting exercise. He gave the assurance that adequate measures had been put in place to guarantee the safety of members of the public, who he advised to go about their normal lawful businesses.
    The Executive Governor of Cross Rivers, Professor Benedict Ayade, is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour during the opening ceremony of the Combat Sports Competition scheduled for 3 April 2018 while Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom will be the Special Guest of Honour during the closing ceremony on 6 April 2018.

  • NAF showcases innovative products at technology expo 2018

    Participants at the just concluded Technology and Innovation Expo 2018 have expressed absolute delight over the innovativeness and achievements of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the area of Research and Development.

    The NAF, which was invited by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to the 5-day exhibition, had on display various innovative products such as the Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), Air Marshal SB Abubakar Aviation Power Pack and Hydraulic Diaphragm for the Mi-Series Helicopter.

    The exhibition, which held from 5-9 March 2018 at the Eagle Square Abuja, had as its theme, “Fast Tracking Sustainable Development of Nigeria Through Science and Technology”.

    Apart from showcasing its innovative products, the NAF was also invited as an assessor along with other reputable research organisations and members of the academia due to its immense contributions and progress in Science and Technology.

    The products on display were the efforts of the Air Force Research and Development Centre and the Air Force Institute of Technology in partnership with universities and Research Institutions in the country.

    The event was attended by representatives of various Research institutes, industries, schools and private organisations.

    The opening and closing ceremonies of the Exhibition were attended by His Excellency, the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu among other dignitaries.

    The NAF Research Team was led by the Director of Research and Development, Group Captain Ahmed Shinkafi, who also delivered the goodwill message on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during the Engineering Day organised by National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) at the event.

    At the end of the exhibition, certificates of participation and prizes were presented to participants.

     

  • NAF advocates increased security consciousness among youths

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has advocated for increased security consciousness amongst Nigerian youths as a way of engendering a flawless Nigerian society.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Olatokunbo Adesanya, reiterated this advocacy on 7 March 2018 while delivering a lecture at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) as part of programmes to mark the University’s 2018 Law Week. The theme of the Law Week is ‘Law and Security: Fostering a Flawless Society’.

    According to AVM Adesanya, the relationship between law and order is direct and interwoven and cannot be separated from the other in an effort to have a near flawless society.

    He maintained that it might be impossible to attain a totally flawless society because respective human beings have individual choices to do either what is wrong or right. Nevertheless, the citizenry must make every effort towards having a flawless society.

    Speaking further during his lecture titled, ‘Role of Security Agencies in Engendering a Flawless Society: the Nigerian Air Force in Perspective’, AVM Adesanya stated that it is only in a near flawless society that there could be true prosperity in a peaceful and orderly environment.

    He further averred that it is only by operating within the ambient of existing statutes that security agencies could contribute to the engendering of a flawless society. Accordingly, the law and the security should be seen as two sides of the same coin if we must aspire to become a flawless society.

    He added that although the journey towards becoming a flawless society is collective, it begins with individual choices to be orderly and to encourage others to be orderly.

    The NAF Spokesman therefore encouraged the Law undergraduates, who would chart the future of law in Nigeria in the coming years, according to him, to be very mindful of their individual and collective responsibilities towards fostering a flawless Nigerian society.

    He also urged them to be more security conscious while being mindful that they would work side by side with security agencies and not on opposite sides.

    The DOPRI used the opportunity to reel out the several humanitarian intervention programmes, which the NAF had embarked upon in the last 3 years in different parts of the country.

    He revealed that the humanitarian programmes were part of NAF’s contributions towards engendering a flawless society. AVM Adesanya revealed that NAF’s recent humanitarian intervention schemes include the free treatment given to nearly 300,000 Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country, including free surgical operations, free cancer screening and treatment, in addition to provision of free eyeglasses.

    The revelation elicited a resounding round of applause from the staff and students of the institution, who were obviously unaware of the extent to which the NAF had gone in providing succour to IDPs.

    The NAF’s decision to accept to deliver the lecture is part of its efforts at mentoring the youths, as future leaders, towards laying a solid foundation for a more secured Nigerian society in the nearest future.

    The NAF has indeed established strong links with members of the academia in the past few years with the belief that the absence of such linkages, in the past, had hindered national development.

     

     

  • Dapchi Girls’ abduction: NAF denies deploying 100 aircraft to Yobe

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday denied sending 100 aircraft to Yobe State in search of the abducted girls in Dapchi.

    Recall that there were reports in some sections of the media of the deployment of 100 aircraft in an intensified approach to finding the girls.

    This was revealed in a statement signed and sent to TheNewsGuru.com on Wednesday by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the force, AVM Adetokubo Adesanya.

    The statement reads:

    NIGERIAN AIR FORCE DID NOT DEPLOY 100 AIRCRAFT FOR SEARCH OF DAPCHI GIRLS

    The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to a statement being circulated to the effect that 100 NAF aircraft had been deployed in search of the missing Dapchi girls. While paying a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Yobe State, in company of the Chief of the Air Staff, on 27 February 2018, the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Monguno, indeed spoke about the number of sorties so far conducted by NAF aircraft in the course of searching for the missing girls within a stated period. Obviously, the number of sorties does not equate the number of aircraft deployed.

  • NAF trains 20 personnel as cyber security, software developers

    NAF trains 20 personnel as cyber security, software developers

    The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) said it had trained 20 of its officers as software developers and Cyber Security personnel to enhance effective military operation through information and communication.

    The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this at the maiden communications branch Workshop for NAF personnel.

    Abubakar said that 12 officers had been trained in United States of America as software developers, while eight were trained in India in the area of cyber security.

    The theme of the workshop is: “Positioning Communications Branch for Effective, Efficient, and Timely Support of NAF Operations”.

    The CAS said that there had been a gradual decline in expertise, skills and professionalism of the communications branch personnel over the years.

    According to him,sophisticated equipment and technological advancement used by the NAF are quite rapid.

    He said that there was need for personnel to be acquainted with such technological advancement in order to remain relevant in the scheme of NAF operations.

    ” The Nigeria Air Force has embarked on several training programmes for its personnel in software development, cyber security, communications, imagery analysis and maintenance of NAF facilities,” he said.

    He said that modern work was driven by technology and urged the participants to come up with useful deliberations to enhance an effective and efficient information communication.

    Abubakar said that plans were underway to send more personnel for such training.

    Earlier, Chief of Communications, AVM Charles Oghomwen, said that the communication branch was a critical component of NAF operations.

    He said that the branch intended to have a robust outfit that has a “bird eye’s view of each nook and cranny of the Nigeria airspace and surrounding border towns of neighbouring countries.

    “This will aggregate information and live feeds using software from directorate of IT, equipped with Communications, Radar feeds from directorate of radar and Geospatial intelligence from directorate of space technology.

    ” Our ISR ( Intelligence, surveillance and Reconnaissance ) platforms will obviously play a major role in this outfit, hence our cameras must be notch,“he said

    Oghmwen said the training of image analyst, software developers and ethical- hackers was paramount to enhance NAF cyber security.

    He said that there was need to run at a pace to meet the basic standards set by more developed Air Force which many of the participants had been exposed to, over time.

    “We must keep our dreams and aspirations well ahead of our present equipment holdings and strive hard to meet the ever changing new technologies and better ways of doing things.

    “This is the task which this workshop must address,” he said.

    The communications branch workshop was established to further improve communication services in Nigerian Air Force communication.

    Participants at the workshop include: branch chiefs from the Defence Headquarters, serving and retired military officers and other stakeholders.

  • [Photos] Buhari inducts first NAF indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in its resolve to promote innovation and enhance its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, today, 15 February 2018, inducted its first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) nicknamed, Tsaigumi.

    The Tsaigumi UAV, which was produced by NAF Aerospace Engineers in collaboration with UAVision of Portugal, would be used for ISR operations in land and sea domains. It could also be used for policing operations, disaster management, convoy protection, maritime patrol, pipeline and power line monitoring as well as mapping and border patrol duties.

    [Photos] Buhari inducts first NAF indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

    In addition, it could be deployed for the protection of wildlife, weather forecast and telecast. Additionally, in the maritime domain, the Tsaigumi UAV could be used for search and rescue, coastal monitoring and patrol of Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

    The UAV, which is capable of day and night operations, has an operational endurance in excess of 10 hours, a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km.

    It has a maximum take-off weight of 95kg and its payload is an electro-optic/infra-red camera system.

    In his remarks at the induction ceremony, the Special Guest of Honour, President Muhammadu Buhari, praised the leadership of the NAF, under Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for the unprecedented feat it had attained in Research and Development (R&D).

    According to President Buhari, the drive, determination and unwavering support of the NAF leadership brought about numerous significant innovations, not least of which is the Tsaigumi UAV.

    He added that the attainment of the technological feat is an indication that Nigeria has the needed potential to surmount other technological needs.

    The President noted that UAVs are an essential feature of modern armed forces. He, therefore, considered it most gratifying that the NAF had gone a step further than simply acquiring them, to developing UAV capabilities with indigenous technology.

    “Indeed, this outstanding accomplishment holds promise of both military and economic benefits to the nation. From the military perspective, the added capacity for ISR provided by Tsaigumi UAV would undoubtedly boost ongoing and future security operations”, the President added.

    The President noted that as soon as the NAF UAV project moves into the next stage of mass production, it would create employment opportunities and generate revenue as Nigeria’s first military export product.

    He, therefore, commended the NAF for the accomplishment and urged it not to rest on its oars but to strive harder in its R&D efforts for greater innovation.

    President Buhari then promised his administration’s support towards the attainment of greater technological milestones for the nation.

    In his welcome address, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar reiterated the commitment of the NAF to R&D so as to develop unprecedented capacity to surmount current and emerging security challenges.

    The CAS explained that the newly produced Tsaigumi UAV possesses certain salient physical and performance parameters, which position it as an efficient tool for curbing Internal Security challenges. The CAS posited that history and modern experience attest to the role of the military in bringing about innovations that have revolutionized not just warfare capability but human capacity as a whole.

    “Indeed, many of the technologies that enhance human life and safety today emerged from R&D; radar, jet engines, satellite tracking, digital photography, Internet and others”, the CAS added. According to the CAS, today’s feat would have been impossible if not for the unflinching financial support that the Service has continued to receive from the Federal Government.

    Air Marshal Abubakar added that the NAF would not rest on its oars regarding R&D. Accordingly, having achieved enhanced ISR capability, the next step for the NAF is to perfect the development of another UAV nicknamed “Ichoku”, which would be the first indigenous Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).

    The President who was highly impressed with the innovation later unveiled the UAV to the delight of invited guests. He was thereafter led on a guided tour of other recent and ongoing NAF R&D projects, which were on display.

    The projects included the Mi-Helicopter Gunship’s Hydraulic Accumulator Diaphragm, SB Abubakar Aviation Power Pack, Unmanned Ground Vehicle and F4 Rocket Launcher Heat Shield Cone. Also on display was NAFSA Eagle Aircraft, an 8-passenger multi role aircraft that was locally designed and being manufactured at the Air Force Research and Development Centre to fulfil a variety of roles in the NAF.

    It would be recalled that the NAF overtime has developed the capacity of its personnel across different facets of aerospace engineering.

    These trained engineers in collaboration with other organizations and institutions, both home and abroad, have worked assiduously to improve NAF operations through design, development and innovation.

    It is through these efforts that the NAF aerospace engineers successfully produced the indigenous operational Tsaigumi UAV. Tsaigumi UAV is a much more advanced and operationalized version of the earlier produced Amebo and Gulma UAV prototypes.

    The event was witnessed by several senior government officials and political leaders, one of who was His Excellency, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State. Governor El-Rufai immediately expressed the willingness and readiness of Kaduna State to procure some Tsaigumi UAV from the NAF, once available.

  • Herdsmen/farmers clashes: NAF to establish operational units in Taraba, Benue-Nassarawa axis

    The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar on Friday disclosed plans by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to establish a Forward Operational Base (FOB) in Taraba State, as part of plans to further tackle the incessant herdsmen-farmers clash in the country.

    The CAS, who disclosed the plans while delivering a lecture to participants of National Defence College (NDC) Course 26 in Abuja, also announced plans to establish a Quick Response Wing along the Benue-Nassarawa Axis.

    The title of the lecture, which lasted one hour, was ‘The Nigerian Air Force – Challenges and Future Perspectives’.

    Participants of the Course are drawn from senior officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and those of sister African countries, senior officials of other security agencies in Nigeria as well as those of Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    The lecture afforded the CAS to share thoughts with the participants on how the National Defence Policy prescribes that the NAF should be employed, out of which the mission statement of the NAF was coined. Air Marshal Abubakar also spoke on the current and likely threats as well as contingencies from the perspective of air operations.

    He then elucidated on his vision for the NAF while also highlighting current efforts at actualizing it. Some of the initiatives included but are not limited to the establishment of new commands and some units, improvement in human capacity development, improved aircraft serviceability and logistics support as well as enhanced personnel welfare.

    He also spoke about the efforts being made in the area of research and development towards improved self-sufficiency, as a result of which the NAF is currently making great savings in foreign exchange. Thereafter, he discussed the current NAF Force structure, doctrine, current capabilities and equipment holding in response to threats alongside the NAF’s strategic plan before looking at NAF future perspectives.

    The CAS equally examined the challenges and constraints to the NAF’s air power effectiveness before concluding the lecture by discussing the strategies to countering the challenges enumerated. The lecture was followed by a stimulating interactive session.

    In his closing remarks, the Commandant of NDC, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, declared that “You cannot win any war today without an effective and virile Air Force”. He then added that there was no doubt that the current NAF leadership is taking a lot of laudable and unprecedented steps, especially in the area of technological development, in a bid to reposition the NAF for greatness.

    He particularly cited the recent feats by the NAF in locally designing and producing an operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, among many other breakthroughs in the area of research and development. He then seized the opportunity to congratulate the CAS on the recent passage of the bill establishing the Air Force Institute of Technology Kaduna, which he believed would further enhance technological growth in the NAF.

    Recall that NAF had also earlier announced plans to establish FOBs in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, as part of its commitment to combatting emerging security challenges in those parts of the country.

  • NAF airlifts rescued hostages from Sambisa forest, provides medical treatment

    Following concerted efforts by air and ground elements against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in the Sambisa Forest, which led to the capture of Camp Zairo, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has airlifted rescued hostages who had been in the captivity of the BHTs.

    The rescued hostages, including the aged, women as well as children, were airlifted to the 105 Composite Group, Maiduguri by the NAF Agusta 109 helicopter.

    At the NAF Base in Maiduguri, the NAF Medical Team, which was on standby, conducted preliminary medical checks on the rescued hostages and also provided them with medical treatment prior to the process of integrating them into the larger society.

    Furthermore, the rescued hostages, who were all looking tired and malnourished after the period of captivity, were fed by the NAF.

    The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed that those with serious medical cases be immediately placed on admission to ensure they were adequately cared for.

    This is in furtherance of the NAF’s resolute efforts at winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of the locals, as part of an overall campaign strategy.

    It would be recalled that the NAF, under its current leadership, has been rendering humanitarian services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East and other parts of the country as part of its corporate social responsibility.

    So far, over 300, 000 IDPs have benefited from NAF’s medical outreach programmes, which spread across the entire country.

    The NAF would continue to airlift the rescued hostages and provide them with the needed initial succour.

  • NAF graduates another set of trainees, recruits 5,5707 in less than 3 years

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday graduated 1,544 recruits, who have just successfully completed the Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 38/2017 at the NAF’s Military Training Centre (MTC), Kaduna.

    The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was the Reviewing Officer and Guest of Honour during the colourful Passing Out Parade (POP) ceremony, stated that the NAF had trained a total of 5,707 young Nigerians as airmen/airwomen since July 2015, when the current NAF leadership assumed office.

    This, according to him, is in consonance with the NAF’s aspiration of boosting the capacity of the Service to curtail insecurity and insurgency in Nigeria. It is also in line with the Federal Government’s policy of employment generation for the teeming qualified youths desirous to serve the country through the NAF.

    He then expressed his delight that the efforts made by the current administration at expanding the training facilities have continued to meet the desired objectives.

    Speaking further during the Passing Out Parade ceremony held on the Parade Ground of MTC, Air Marshal Abubakar said the 6 months of rigorous training was designed to prepare the recruits for a challenging but rewarding career.

    He added that he was not too surprised that 55 of those who started the training could not withstand the strenuous training. He therefore congratulated the graduands for their resilience to withstand the rigours of training while announcing that they would be further equipped through series of specialist training courses in the course of their career in the NAF.

    Air Marshal Abubakar also charged the graduands to take advantage of the knowledge and skill acquired, from the Internal Security Module, to safeguard lives and properties wherever and whenever they were deployed for Internal Security duties. He therefore urged them to always respect human rights in the performance of their duties, a practice for which the NAF is renowned. In addition, the CAS reminded the new recruits of their civic responsibility and that they were subject to both military and civil laws.

    “You should always remember that good civil-military relations is a key component of a civilized society. You must therefore resist the temptation to brutalize civilians. Your duty is to protect all Nigerians irrespective of their political, ethnic, religious or other inclinations”, he added.

    Air Marshal Abubakar expressed profound gratitude to Mr President, who has continued to give priority attention to the NAF to meet its operational requirements and welfare issues. He then assured Mr President of the NAF’s unalloyed loyalty and total commitment to his administration’s aspiration for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria. One of the highlights of the occasion was the presentation of awards, by the CAS, to the best 3 graduands in order of merit.

    The award recipients were Aircraftwoman Ololade Olabisi, Aircraftman Elekwachi Ifeanyi and Aircraftman Ukuta Michael, three of who won the CAS Award, AOC GTC Award and Commandant MTC Award respectively. It was the first time in the history of the NAF that a female would come first during BMTC.

    The POP ceremony was attended by many senior military officers, serving and retired, as well as dignitaries, including the representatives of the Governors of Kaduna and Yobe States. Another set of successful recruits would soon commence the BMTC at MTC, NAF Base Kaduna.