CAS tells commanders that we cannot afford to let down Nigerians

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) troops have been reminded by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, of the enormous responsibility placed on members of the Nigerian Armed Forces by all Nigerians in ensuring their safety and wellbeing.

This was said by Abubakar on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with branch heads, directors, commandants, commanders, and air component commanders.

The CAS stated that Nigerians expected the service to ensure that all regions were free of criminals and their inclinations in a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet in Abuja.

He also urged them to develop plans to enhance NAF’s operations throughout the meeting’s time.

In order to best utilise airpower capabilities during joint operations, he also pushed them to improve the NAF’s logistics support systems and maintenance practises.

Abubakar claimed that with the recent arrival of the final two Diamond-62 Multi-Purpose Platform in Ilorin, Kwara, the NAF had begun receiving new aviation assets purchased by the Federal Government.

He claims that NAF would soon be integrating additional new platforms that it has bought for the Service.

“When inducted, these additional aircraft would surely add considerable impetus to NAF operations in dealing with insurgents, terrorists, and other criminal elements plaguing our nation,” he stated.

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Abubakar thanked President Bola Tinubu for his on-going assistance in addressing the operational, training, and welfare requirements of the service.

In addition, he gave the president and all Nigerians assurances about NAF’s unshakable dedication to working tirelessly, in coordination with other security agencies, to fulfil its goal of maintaining a safe, secure, united, and successful country.

AVM Sayo Olatunde, the Chief of Policy and Plans, had earlier urged the senior officers to continue to think of themselves as more than just commanders or commandants; rather, they should consider themselves to be managers, mentors, and leaders to their subordinates.

“Command confers on you the authority and responsibility to effectively utilise available resources and to plan, organise, direct, coordinate, and control your forces for the accomplishment of assigned tasks,” he said.

He emphasised the necessity of continuing to motivate, inspire, and influence their staff in order to complete the allocated task and advance the Service.

In order to be able to absorb new concepts that would improve their capacity for command responsibility, Olatunde also exhorted them to enter the meeting with a critical thinking mindset and be prepared to relearn what they had previously learned. (NAN)