By YAKUBU UBA

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Abubakar, took lunch on Friday with troops of Air Task Force of “Operation Lafiya Dole” in Maiduguri to celebrate Christmas.

Speaking at the occasion, Abubakar said that the gesture was to fill the vacuum created as a result of troops inability to celebrate with their families.

“This occasion also fosters comradeship and gives us the opportunities to commend ourselves for our collective efforts in the ongoing fight against insurgency.

“It is not easy to quantify your enormous contributions and sacrifice towards the war against insurgency.

“Christmas celebration is all about sacrifice. As such as military professionals, our sacrifices for the unity of Nigeria remains immeasurable.

“We are all aware of the enormous responsibility we bear in ensuring the indivisibility of our dear country,” Abubakar said.

He urged the troops to remain vigilant and focused, reiterating his commitment to reposition the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for effective, efficient and timely deployment of air power in response to national security challenges.

He lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for providing NAF with needed resources to perform its assigned duties.

“I want to use this occasion to appreciate the support of members of the National Assembly committees on the NAF.

“I want to assure you that all approved resources have been judiciously utilised,” he said.

In his address, the Air Task Force Commander, Air Commodore Abubakar Abdulkadir, who described the lunch as one of the many gestures of the Air Force chief in raising the moral and spirit of troops in the front line, assured the troops of commitment to assigned tasks.

“Your presence here to felicitate us in spite of your tight schedule demonstrates your continued commitment to the welfare and well-being of troops of the Air Task Force,” Abdulkadir said.

In his remarks on behalf of Borno Government, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, lauded the effective role of the NAF and other security agencies in bringing peace to the state and assured the government of commitment to work with them for lasting peace in the state. (NAN)

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