The Federal Government has commended personnel of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) for their active role in the fight against insecurity, ensuring peace for the citizens.
The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, said there was a need to enhance personnel training to ensure safety during operations.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, Badaru stated this at the NAF Training, Operations and Safety Seminar for the year 2024, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The theme of the seminar is, ‘Agile and Resilient Air Power for National Security: Enhancing Safety and Optimizing NAF Air Operations to Combat Emerging Threats’.
Badaru noted that safety during operation is key, as it enables personnel to maintain a high tempo during operation.
“This focus on safety is crucial, as it enables the NAF to maintain a high level of operational tempo while minimizing the risk of accidents and mishaps.
“It is noteworthy to mention that the North Eastern part of the country now enjoys relative peace and calmness owing to the selfless contributions and dedication of the men of the armed forces.
“All these would not have been possible if not for the constant need to assess performances and identify shortcomings in our operational activities.
“I believe this is what gave birth to a forum like this, where we would rub minds and examine areas that require improvement,” Badaru stated.
The Minister of Defence added that a well-trained airman is a lethal weapon in the field of operations. Training serves as the factory that churns out the finished products that could be used for operational activities.
“Your work done in operations will almost be zero if you cannot produce well-trained personnel.
“Similarly, operations is a crucial part of a fighting force and the current security dynamics of the country mandate the conduct of concurrent operational activities at all levels,” the Guardian quoted him.