NAF Begins Self Evaluation To Meet Security Challenges–CAS.

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar has said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will embark on self audit with a view to meeting its constitutional obligation as the war against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east and militancy in the Niger/Delta persist.

CAS made this known yesterday in Abuja at his maiden meeting with the senior officers of Air Rank and Commanders where he unveiled his vision for the NAF : 'The future of NAF under our leadership'.

According to him, the globalization and the aftermath of cold war have brought about a decline in interstate conflicts, with an attendant consequences in intrastate conflicts orchestrated by non state actors.
Said he: "Consequently, military forces including NAF are compelled to critically study the character and nature of these post war security challenges in order to come up with new strategies to eliminate and contain them."

The CAS stated that the NAF over the years has been challenged to develop new approach towards meeting its mandate with regards to the delivery of air power in defence of the territorial integrity of the nation, stressing that this has necessitated a holistic transformation not just in the acquisition of modern military hardware, but also in the way they think, train and fight.

Speaking further, he said: "the advent of the present administration which represents the yearning of Nigerians for 'change' provides an avenue for self audit of the preparedness of the NAF in meeting our constitutional obligations, especially in face of the current state of terrorism in the North east as well as crude oil theft in the south-south.

"It is highly essential that we evaluate the future demands of the nation, in terms of aircraft power capabilities which has become a versatile instrument for attainment of state policy,' he stressed.

According to him, the on going air operation at the sambisa forest, Abubakar said that the NAF has been displaying its expertise in order to ensure that the targets are the legitimate targets, thereby avoiding collateral damage.

CAS explained that his vision was therefore to reposition the NAF into a highly professional and disciplined force through capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely eminent of air power in response to Nigeria's national security imoeratives.
By Bayo Oladeji
Source: http://leadership.ng