We’re at the tail end of Operation Lafiya Dole – Air Force chief

By OKOSUN DENNIS

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Saqid Abubakar said in Lagos on Tuesday that the days of Boko Haram insurgency in the north east is numbered as the Nigerian military are at the tail end of operations in the region.

He spoke at the Logistics Command, Ikeja of the Nigerian Airforce while commissioning major projects in units under the command.

Projects commissioned included reactivation of avionics overhaul centre; installation of executive seats on the Charlie 130 Hercules at 401 Aircraft Maintenance Depot; reactivation of the water system; reconstruction of 70 septic tanks at Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, re-roofing of vehicles shades and reactivation of four Jet A1 tankers at 407 Equipment Supply Depot.

He also commissioned the construction of drainage system and two blocks of classroom of eight classrooms at 105 Communications Depot, Shasha.

Air Marshal Abubakar pointed out that “Lagos is logistics base of the Air Force. No matter how excellent an operational plan is, if it is not backed by logistics, you will run into difficulties.

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“I came to access situation on ground, the infrastructure and to ensure things are going on well. I am happy with what I am seeing in the units.”

On insurgency, Air Marshall Abubakar explained that “compare the situation in the beginning of 2015 and today, you will agree there is a difference. Then, Boko Haram was moving on convoys of 15 to 20 vehicles from one community to the other. No victory from Boko Haram, we have decimated them.

“Such a thing is not happening again today. I can tell you that we are making substantial progress in dealing with this problem. Whatever successes recorded was by joint effort, not just the AirForce. We are at the tail end of the northeast operations.

“We are doing so much in terms of close layer support; remember that the function of the Air Force is to provide enabling environment for the surface forces to function.  We soften the ground for surface forces to function.

“We are doing logistics supply to front line; rotation transportation – moving soldiers and equipments from one place  to the other,” Air Marshal Abubakar added.

On allegation made by a serving senator that Gwoza is still under the control of the insurgents, the CAS explained that “I cannot remember the areas the Senator mentioned but I am aware that the Borno State Governor Kazim Shettima has reacted to that issue and as the Chief Security Officer of the state, he knows better than any other person. Right now, I can tell you that Gwoza is not under the insurgents, it is under our forces.”

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He further added that the force is reinvigorating training as it is a continuous process for every air force. “From time to time, we have programmes we undertake to ensure our officers and men are in the best of shapes to be able to deal with security challenges.

“Logistics Command is doing an excellent job. It is just a routine training we have started at night to reposition our men. We are already acquiring more platforms and the government has approved the acquisition of additional platforms for the Air Force.

During his one-day activities in Lagos state, he paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode at his office, Aluasa.

The CAS who was received by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, Ikeja, Air Vice Marshall Mohammadu Mohammed, in his welcome remarks said all the executed projects would motivate personnel to put in their best in order to enhance our collective for the attainment of NAF.