Air chief assures on adequate security during elections

From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar has assured Nigerians that they are always ready to protect lives and properties of Nigerians ahead of the forth coming 2019 general elections.
Abubakar stated this on Wednesday while commissioning the Commando Village at the Nigeria AirForce Base, Bauchi.
He said the desire of the Nigerian Air Force is that no community in Nigeria should be under threat because “our desire is to ensure that we provide the required security for development to take place in Nigeria. The average Nigerian should be able to move around without any fear because he knows he has people like you on ground.
“With what we have here and what you have demonstrated, no Nigerian has any reason to fear again but we are still building your capacity.”
The Chief of Air Staff said that the Nigerian Air Force is desirous of having a highly professional Service which can project air power and ensure that there is enough capacity to protect the Personnel deployed to project the air power.
He said, “Over the years, the Nigerian Air Force has realized that it has the capability to project air power, but there is a gap between her ability to project air power and to protect airpower assets hence the decision to establish the Special Operations Command and the training of regiment personnel.
He added that, “ In the past, we relied totally on the Nigerian Army to protect us in the event of any attack on our Base. We are not trying to divorce our friends, the Nigerian Army, but what we are doing is to build efficient capacity to give some form of protection on our own, Where we are unable to do it or we are overwhelmed, we call the Nigerian Army to support us.”
Abubakar said that over 600 Special Forces Personnel have been deployed to the troubled states of Benue and Zamfara,and 300 of the Special Forces Personnel each have been deployed to Benue and Zamfara States to collaborate with the Army and other Forces to bring lasting peace to the troubled states.
Chief of Air Staff said that the Nigerian Air Force has so far established a Commando Village in Kaduna and Bauchi States adding that plans are underway to set up two more in Ijesha in Osun State and in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said that the welfare of the Special Forces will be improved adding that an accommodation will be built in the Commando Village for the regiment personnel.
According to him, the Force is committed and has what it takes to really deal any situation that arise that will undermine the security of the country.
“I believe that there is absolutely no need for fears,” he declared.