The Nigeria Air Force has announced the full deployment of its fighter aircraft to combat the security crisis in Nigeria’s North-East occasioned by the six-year terrorist campaign by Boko Haram terrorists.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall, Sadique Abubakar, who announced the deployment on Monday, said the current security challenges in Nigeria heavily relied on air power and that discussions were ongoing with the Presidency to ensure the Air Force was battle ready.

He urged senior officers of the force to ensure that integrity, excellence and service delivery were prioritised, to eliminate mediocrity and corruption in the Air Force.

Addressing a meeting of senior officers and commanders of the Air Force on Monday, weeks after he took over as the chief of air staff, revealed his vision and mission for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), with issues on policy directives topping talks.

Air Marshal Abubakar said the current spate of terrorism in the North-East had led to the ‘self-audit’ of the preparedness of the Air Force to defend the nation.

He said he had set up key drivers to help achieve his vision to reposition the Air Force into a highly professional and disciplined force, with effective and timely implementation of air power in response to national security needs.

“The most important task at hand is to assess the assets on ground and make efficient use of them for the current challenges while the authorities make arrangements for additional air power.”

He stressed that the primary responsibility of the Nigerian Air Force was to defend the nation and protect vital economic interests by air.

Air Marshal Abubakar also said Nigeria’s economic interests were presently being hampered by the insurgents in the North-East, therefore requiring strategic response from the air force as soon as possible. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows a Nigerian Air Force attack helicopter on a Boko Haram mission.

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