Nigerian Air Force Commissions Projects For Welfare Of NAF Personnel Fighting Insurgency

Nigerian Air Force Commissions Projects For Welfare Of NAF Personnel Fighting Insurgency

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on 20 April 2018, commissioned 3 newly installed transformers to improve the welfare of troops and their families as well as to create a conducive working environment for personnel at the Headquarters Special Operations Command (HQ SOC), Bauchi. One 500 KVA transformer was installed at the Command Headquarters while another 500 KVA transformer was installed for the residential quarters of the Principal Staff Officers of the Command. In addition, one 50 KVA transformer was installed for the 3 worship centres, a Mosque and 2 Churches, located within the Base. Furthermore, a lawn tennis court was commissioned as an addition to the already existing sporting facilities, which have enhanced the physical fitness of NAF personnel in the Command. HQ SOC, which was specially established to cater for the administration of the Regiment and Special Forces elements in the NAF, contributes a large number of personnel currently taking part in the on-going fight against insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country and other sundry crimes in Nigeria.

In his remarks at the commissioning ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the Chief of Administration at Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Yahaya, posited that the newly installed transformers would not only help alleviate the challenge of epileptic power supply in the office area but also cater for the welfare needs of personnel and their families in the residential areas. He added that the new lawn tennis court, which is also open to the civil community, would further engender interaction between soldiers and civilians, thereby promoting civil military relations. According to him, the sporting facilities would not only help to develop physical capacity and mental alertness of personnel but also foster comradeship and regimentation.

The CAS encouraged the beneficiaries of the facilities to make good use of them so as to prolong their lifespan. Earlier in his remarks, the Commander 251 NAF Base Services Group, Air Commodore Sule Lawal, was full of appreciation for the CAS for never relenting in efforts at ensuring that the welfare of NAF personnel is adequately catered for. He noted that the NAF, in the last 2 to 3 years, had undergone unprecedented transformation, in terms of expansion, capacity building and professionalism, all of which had further positioned the Service towards efficient service delivery.

It would be recalled that in January 2018, the CAS commissioned 6 additional units of 10 single bedroom apartments for personnel at the NAF Base Bauchi, as part of efforts to improve the welfare of personnel. The newly built accommodation for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) has accommodated 60 families of personnel serving in the North East since it’s commissioning. It is worthy to note that the unrelenting efforts of the current NAF leadership at increasing accommodation sufficiency and providing necessary amenities have had a positive effect on the morale of troops that are prosecuting the on-going fight against insurgency in the North East as well as those involved in other Internal Security operations across the country.