Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Nigerian Air Force, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has visited Yola and Maiduguri in North Eastern Nigeria to celebrate the Eid-El-Ahda, in line with his tradition of spending festive periods with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) troops on the front-line.
Air Marshal Abubakar and his team joined the personnel for the Sallah luncheon where he expressed delight over the seating arrangement that ensured there was no high table, thus enabling personnel to freely interact with senior officers.
The high point of the luncheon was the presentation of awards to the neatest airmen’s blocks as well as the best airman of the Third Quarter in NAF Base Yola; Master Warrant Officer Paul Kalau.
He stated that the successes in the fight against insurgency in the past 3 years had enabled persons who had been displaced from their communities for several years to safely return to their ancestral homes.
The CAS noted that the NAF had also made significant progress in the Northwest since the commencement of Operation DIRAN MIKIYA on 30 July 2018, which had led to drastic reduction in armed banditry and other criminal activities in Zamfara and surrounding states.
He stressed that all the achievements recorded were due to the tireless efforts and sacrifices of the gallant officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF and the personnel of sister Services.
He therefore urged them not to relent in their efforts but sustain their dedication towards the performance of NAF’s constitutional roles.
In addition, the CAS again reminded troops to remain non-partisan, while exercising their rights to vote for candidates of their choice at appropriate elections.
Like in Yola, awards were presented to deserving personnel; with Flight Lieutenant Ibrahim Goni and Sergeant Alhassan Yusuf receiving the best officer and airman awards, respectively, for their exceptional professional performance during the Third Quarter of 2018.