Nigerian Air Force (NAF) - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Muhyideen Jimoh
May, Thu, 2025

NAF marks 61st anniversary with display of fighter aircraft

113 total views today

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday displayed its fighter aircraft, accoutrements and other facilities to the public as ‘Open Day’ activities to commemorate its 61st Anniversary Celebration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NAF had announced the ‘Open Day’ as one of the activities lined up to celebrate the 2025 edition.

NAN also reports that the platforms on display at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja include Super Tucano, Maritime Patrol LTR42-500 aircraft, L39 Alpha jets and Bell EC135 Helicopter.

Speaking of the activity, the Commander, 307 Executive Airlift Group Abuja, Air Commodore Mohammed Ahmed, said it was a good thing having civilians to see what the Air Force does.

Ahmed said the NAF saw itself as part of the larger society and owned by the people as well, hence the need to open its doors to Nigerians to see what they are and what they do.

“As the air force is to us, that is how the air force is to you. It is taxpayers’ money being used to buy these airplanes and pay our salary.

“So we appreciate you all. And that is why the Chief of the Air Staff wants us to bring you in so that you can see what your money is being used for.

“Now when we are taking pictures, I saw a young man coming up and his father was saying, come to the future.

“Hopefully one day I will see him and celebrate him as a pilot in Nigeria. So that’s what we are doing here now for today.

One of the visitors, Mr Victor Dickson, a Business Consultant, said it made sense to compare what the air force was before and now, saying what the NAF did had been shrouded in secrecy.

According to him, the only thing people know are just planes, people that wear uniforms but we don’t even understand the rank and where they are situated around the country.

“But here we are for the first time in my life, with my wife and my children, having the opportunity to have air force officers introducing themselves to us.

“They are introducing their uniforms, what they use their different uniforms for, and how they are positioned around the country. And then here again I am at the hangar now, seeing their aircraft.

“I think one of them that stood out for me today was when the senior officer used the word, he said, ‘we know we use your taxpayers’ money,’’ he said.

Dickson described the statement by the NAF officer as a sense of accountability, adding that the open day had provided him the opportunity to see the Nigerian air force at work.

He thanked the leadership of the Nigerian air force for creating avenues for the citizens to connect with their military.

A student from Nigerian Tulip International College Abuja, Stephanie Martin-Sini, said it was interesting to see how the NAF works.

She said they had the opportunity to meet pilots, nurses and doctors, as well as being enlightened on the types of aircraft being used by the air force. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

Emergency response: NAF operationalises 8 upgraded fire trucks

Muhyideen Jimoh
Apr, Wed, 2025

Defence/Security

Emergency response: NAF operationalises 8 upgraded fire trucks

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday in Abuja, unveiled eight fully modernised fire trucks in a decisive step to enhance emergency response capabilities and strengthen community safety.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said the eight were the first batch as part of a broader initiative to upgrade 19 units across the service.

Abubakar described the feat as a demonstration of NAF’s commitment to both national defence and humanitarian support.

He said it was a demonstration of NAF’s commitment and operational readiness as a fighting force and a responsible institution devoted to supporting its bases and host communities with quality emergency services.

He said the milestone was in line with the core aim of his command philosophy to reposition the NAF to better defend the nation’s territorial integrity through enhanced air capabilities.

“We have prioritised air operations, focusing on fleet expansion, combat readiness, and operational safety.

“In line with this, around 1,500 personnel have received training in various safety disciplines this year, highlighting our dedication to a safety-conscious force,’’ he said.

The CAS also revealed that a key part of the on-going safety reforms was a comprehensive overhaul of fire safety systems and the development of a centralised monitoring framework.

This, according to him, is intended to improve compliance, enable early risk identification, and support evidence-based decision-making across the service.

“This initiative is another giant stride towards securing not just the skies but also the lives and properties within our bases and surrounding communities.

“It underscores our integrated approach to national service, which combines military excellence with humanitarian responsibility,” he added.

The fire tenders were upgraded through a comprehensive technical overhaul conducted by Messrs Afrodezt Global Services Limited, an indigenous engineering firm.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Emmanuel Oluguo, said the upgrades incorporated higher-capacity components and cutting-edge fire fighting systems designed to extend vehicle lifespan and significantly enhance operational efficiency.

Oluguo said the company handled both mechanical, electrical and overhauling of the pump system from analogue to present modern fire fighting trucks.

He said the fire trucks that were manufactured in 1982 and 1983 were converted and installed with a modern pumping system of 2022 and 2023. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

NAF engineers revive aircraft grounded for 23 years

Lydia Beshel
Jan, Wed, 2025

Defence/Security

NAF engineers revive aircraft grounded for 23 years

382 total views today

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its aircraft engineers and technicians have, in a phenomenal display of ingenuity, reactivated a Dornier DO-228 aircraft which had been grounded for 23 years.

The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, AVM Olusola Akinboyewa, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, described the development as a remarkable feat.

Akinboyewa said that the achievement underscored NAF’s growing capacity for indigenous maintenance to bolster its operational readiness, whilst contributing to Nigeria’s inherent aviation capabilities.

He said that the aircraft, originally designated “5N-MPS” and operated by the now defunct Ministry of Mines, Power and Steel, had been grounded at the DANA facility in Kaduna since 2001.

“However, sequel to a presidential directive for ministries, departments and agencies to transfer such grounded platforms to the NAF for evaluation and possible reactivation, the NAF initiated this project.

“The NAF took on the challenge of reactivating this aircraft, a Dash 201 Series with only 1,081 flight hours since new, considering the task a unique opportunity to restore a valuable national asset.

“The reactivation process, for the grounded aircraft – re-designated “NAF-039” – was conducted between June and September 2024, involving meticulous planning and painstaking execution by a crack team of five engineering officers and 40 technicians from the NAF 431 Engineering Group (Engr Gp), Kaduna,” he said.

According to him, the accomplishment, which requires the application of advanced engineering techniques and adherence to stringent aviation standards, attests to NAF’s growing technical expertise and resolute determination.

Akinboyewa said that the success of the project carried significant strategic implications, bearing in mind that beyond enhancing the NAF’s fleet, it symbolises the service’s resolve to achieve self-reliance in aviation maintenance for operational effectiveness.

According to him, it also serves as a morale booster for the NAF engineers and technicians, showcasing their ability to undertake complex projects which otherwise would have been outsourced to foreign entities.

The Chief of the Air Staff, (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, lauded the 431 Engr Group for their dedication, emphasizing the broader import of the achievement.

Abubakar said that the project was a reflection of NAF’s resolve to optimise resources, strengthen its fleet and uphold national security through operational excellence.

He said that the successful reactivation of NAF 039 was not just an operational gain, but a statement of NAF’s capabilities and commitment to self-reliance.

The CAS said that the accomplishment built upon NAF’s earlier successes, such as the conduct of the first in-country 4,800-hour inspection on another DO-228 aircraft in January 2024.

He said that the milestones highlighted NAF’s growing capacity for advanced in-house aircraft maintenance and served as a foundation for future projects aimed at achieving technical autonomy.

“The reactivation of NAF-039 after 23 years is more than an engineering achievement; it showcases the NAF’s ingenuity, resilience and commitment to operational excellence.

“It also reaffirms the Air Force’s vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity, while highlighting its dedication to resource optimisation and self-reliance.

“The newly-reactivated aircraft will bolster the NAF’s tactical airlift capabilities by joining the fleet of DO 228 aircraft, a platform still actively used worldwide.

“This achievement solidifies the NAF’s position as a formidable player in Africa’s aviation sector, with the potential to lead in indigenous maintenance and technical innovation,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq