One Year Sentry of Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar

By Christel Odili

Following his appointment on 13 July 2015 as the 20^th Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar soon settle down for the business of

administering the affairs of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), coming on board with a clear cut vision “To reposition the NAF into a highly professional and discipline force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperatives.” The CAS vision as encapsulated is in accord with the Federal Government’s Change Mantra as unveiled by President Muhammed Buhari to inject a sense of commitment, transparency and accountability into the business of governance.

One year down the lane, Air Marshal Abubakar’s vision has transformed the NAF into a seemingly formidable, versatile and dependable air force with prospects for concrete deliverables in line with its statutory roles of protecting the nation’s territorial integrity through the air.

These landmark feats are evidence in the NAF operational successes especially in its participation in the various Internal Security Operations across the nation. Other areas of visible achievements under the incumbent NAF administration are maintenance of air assets and equipment, enhanced research and development efforts, barracks and office infrastructures upgrade, and improved medical and fitness services for personnel, their families and neighbouring civilians.

Other areas of notable achievements by the incumbent CAS include capacity building for personnel, robust logistics support for the NAF operations, improved Base Defence Concept to ensure security of NAF Bases nationwide, and humanitarian cares for Internally Displace Persons as a result of the Boko Haram insurgents’ activities.

 

Aside it’s international commitments in peace operations, the NAF is currently involved in a number of Internal Security (IS) operations in Nigeria. 

They include OPERATION LAFIA DOLE in the North East, OPERATION DELTA SAFE in the Niger Delta, OPERATION SHARAN DAJI in the North West, OPERATION SAFE HAVEN in Plateau State and OPERATION AWATSE in Lagos general area.

The NAF provides air support for these various operations in broader dimension and to a great degree contributes to the surface forces. 

It is worthy to note how the air efforts under the watch of Air Marshal Abubakar has shaped the battle space in OPERATION LAFIA DOLE with the increasing decimation and degradation of the Boko Haram Terrorists’ strongholds and logistics bases. The NAF, through its air efforts, has thus created the enabling environment for the ground forces to operate and recover lost territories from Boko Haram.

These were achieved through aggressive and purposeful interdictions, close air support as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Other crucial areas of NAF engagements entails logistics re-supply, airlift of troops and equipment, medical and causalities evacuations, employing the Alpha jets,      F-7Ni fighter aircraft, ATR-42 MPA, King Air 350 Beechcraft, C-130 Hercules and Mi series of attack helicopters . These missions culminated to about 10,298 flying hours within the range of one year under the watch of Air Marshal Abubakar. This feat is unprecedented in the account of NAF flying missions.

Logistics support and maintenance of air assets likewise has received adequate attention with the reactivation of grounded fleet and timely provision of spares to boost effectiveness and efficiency of NAF operations. The NAF, at the same time, is at the verge of acquiring new aircrafts including the Mi-35M attack helicopters, JF-17 Fighter Jets, MFI-17 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft and Yabhon Flash Unmanned Aerial Vehicle to enhance training and boost operational capability.

In the area of human capacity development, NAF personnel, more than before, have continued to enjoy qualitative training both locally and overseas since July 2015. The renewed emphasis on training derives largely from the vision of the CAS for human capacity development through robust and result-oriented training for enhanced professional performance. It is on record that a total     of 2,415 personnel have so far been trained locally while 514 personnel have trained overseas in various specialities. The statistics include 44 pilots that were trained locally and 112 officers currently undergoing various flying training abroad.

Another area of outstanding achievement under the incumbent administration is the “Winning Hearts and Minds” strategy through the provision of humanitarian assistance to the IDPs in the North East and other locations across the country. The NAF established and maintained a level 2 field hospital, toilet facilities and water projects at the IDP Camp, Dalori in Borno State to cater for spectrum of medical needs. The Camp, which accommodates about 28,000 IDPs, was hitherto without adequate medical services, toilets and portable water. The NAF is currently at the verging establishing a similar Emergence Field Hospital for IDPs in Bama.

The rationale for this project is to bolster the confidence of the people in the NAF while countering the Boko Haram recruitment strategy and to enhance local intelligence gathering.

The NAF within the period under review has also made phenomena progress in the area of research and development (R&D), considering the scarce resources available with the refusal by some countries to sell weapons to Nigeria due to embargo.

The leadership of Air Mshl Abubakar decided to forge strategic partnership with relevant and reputable Ministries, Departments and Agencies in order to enhance R&D towards self-reliance and better operational sustainability. Recent notable breakthroughs emanating from the R & D efforts include adaptation of UB-16/32 rocket launchers on Alpha Jet aircraft, production of 500 units of Alpha Jet bomb release pyro-cartridges, production and test firing of prototype standalone intervalometer and overhauling of the Alpha Jet brakes assembly in collaboration with INNOSON Vehicle Manufacturing Company at Nnewi. Other areas of R&D breakthrough include the design of proximity fuse for aircraft bombs, production of prototype 250kg bomb, re-militarisation of 2 Alpha Jet aircraft acquired from the USA with weapon delivery capability, production of 50 accumulator diaphragm for Mi-35 helicopters and host of others inventions. These inventions have directly injected efficiency and impacted the NAF operations in the various Internal Security operations.

Samples of newly built residential accommodation

In the area of personnel welfare, Air Marshal Abubakar’s administration has also made tremendous progress through the provision of new and renovations of existing barracks and offices infrastructures.

This is clearly evidence as NAF Bases across the country are now wearing new looks with execution of about 268 direct-impact projects.

The NAF under Abubakar’s stewardship also commenced the Chief of the Air Staff Empowerment Programme for wives and dependants of personnel to equip them with technical and entrepreneurship skills toward self-employment. This stride is a morale booster to the personnel as it adds impetus to the high level of operational achievements of the NAF.

There is no gainsaying that all these achievements, and many other giant endeavours, are products of the visionary and purposeful leadership of one man – Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar – who currently steers the affairs of the Nigerian Air Force. Notwithstanding the “Armsgate” scandal, there is a bright and overwhelming side of the NAF in recent time.

That success story is the repositioning of the NAF for effective and efficient air operations toward the restoration of peace, security of lives and property, as well as nation building.