…as Gov Mohammed promises to connect Bauchi Base with National Grid
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday began the construction of Aircraft Maintenance Hanger, at the Special Operations Command, Bauchi.
In a remark during the ground breaking ceremony, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, promised that the Nigerian Air Force would do more to end banditry, terrorism insurgency and other criminal elements in the country.
He said that the project will significantly add value to the Air Force’s operations in the northeast, northwest and the entire country when completed.
“By its strategic location, Bauchi provides our aircrafts with the reach required to adequately respond and provide our troops fighting against insurgency, terrorism in the northeast, banditry in the northwest as well as other security challenges in the northcentral.
“The construction of the aircraft maintenance hanger will add significant value to the efforts at tackling the current and emerging security situation and challenges affecting our country.
“The downtime for aircraft maintenance will not only be greatly reduced, but precious flying time used to ferry aircrafts to other bases will be preserved.
“The facilities in Bauchi will therefore, ensure quick turnaround time for our aircrafts to allow more hours for operations against terrorists and in support of other government efforts of providing security,” he stated.
He added: “The role of Special Operations Command located here in Bauchi is very crucial to Nigerian Air Force operations and it is a deciding element in the war against banditry, insurgency and other criminal elements in northwest, northcentral as well as the northeast geopolitical zones of the country.”
Abubakar who said “the hanger can accommodate up to 10 aircrafts at a time,” urged the officers and men of the Special Operations Command, Principal Staff, Unit Commanders and the entire personnel of the Command, to continue to put in their best towards ensuring that the country is safe and secured.
He said: “Remember that we have always put across the point that ‘to add value to our country and secure our communities, there is no finishing line.’
“We must continue to work harder and ensure that our communities are secured and our people can pursue their legitimate aspirations without fears.”
He expressed gratitude to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) for facilitating the approval of the budget to construct the hanger in Bauchi despite the current economic realities and for his continuous support to the Nigerian Air Force towards the achievement of its desire for airpower objectives.
The CAS assured that: “We shall continue to work for the security, unity and prosperity of Nigeria in line with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Our loyalty and service to the nation must always be our motivation. I therefore, urge all officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force to embrace the highest level of commitment and professionalism in their daily conduct.”
The Air Commanding Officer, Special Operations Command, Bauchi, Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo, speaking earlier in his welcome address, said the aircraft maintenance hangar would not only serve the Nigerian Air Force and the aviation industry nationwide but also improve the security response time in the region.
He said: “Prior to this, the maintenance of most of the Nigerian Air Force aircraft were hitherto carried out in our facilities in Kaduna, Port-Harcourt, Lagos and Enugu.
“The distances of these facilities to the various ongoing theatres (in the NorthEast, NorthWest and NorthCentral) posed some operational challenges in tackling insecurity within our areas of responsibility.
“However, with the actualization of this project the ferrying time as well as the timeframe for turnaround maintenances of our platforms would be drastically reduced thereby improving effectiveness and efficiency in our fight against insecurity.
In a speech, Bauchi state governor, promised that within a short time, the state government will connect the Bauchi Air Force Special Operations Command with the National Grid to ensure stable power supply.
He said: “I wish to apologise on behalf of the past and the present administrations for not connecting this base to the National Grid. But I want to assure you that within a short time, my administration will connect the entire Base to the National Grid to enhance power supply here.
Mohammed said that the success and performance of Nigerian Air Force is determined by how well its aircraft is maintained and sheltered.
“Therefore, it is indeed a good opportunity to be part of this epoch making event as this aircraft maintenance hangar would serve as a store house and maintenance shelter to the precious platforms of the Nigerian Air Force and other aircrafts that could be maintained at the Hangar.
“We are all aware that the Nigeria’s economy is currently under more serious threat than ever experienced before because of the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and other attendant problems surrounding revenue generation,” he stated.
The governor stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his commitment to continually support ongoing operations against Boko Haram, banditry and other criminality in the country and to equip the military adequately to completely end the insurgency and suppress other forms of criminality pointing out that “the approval for the construction of this hangar is a testament of his promise.”
He thanked the President and Members of the National Assembly for appropriating and approving the funds for the building of the aircraft hangar in Bauchi.
“This hangar will no doubt support the various operations in the entire North and internal security operations in Bauchi State. Indeed, it is a thing of joy that Bauchi State will benefit from this project during and on completion of the project by offering employment to many,” Governor said.
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