Hyacinth Chinweuba
As part of efforts aimed at enhancing the welfare of personnel for effective service delivery, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commissioned 3 newly remodelled and renovated blocks of 10 x single-bedroom flats for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) at the 407 Air Combat Training Group (407 ACTG), Kainji.
The project, which was executed through direct labour by the NAF Directorate of Works, is expected to cater for the housing needs of at least 30 personnel and their families, thereby reducing accommodation deficiencies on NAF Base, Kainji.
The provision of more decent accommodation for personnel at the NAF Base in Kainji is in line with the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar’s, drive to ensure that the welfare of all NAF personnel is accorded priority attention.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the CAS, represented by the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Training Command (ATC), Air Vice Marshal Musa Mukhtar, disclosed that the Base was being re-positioned to effectively support the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft when it eventually arrives in Nigeria.
According to him, the robust infrastructural development currently being undertaken in the Base would offer the personnel better living and working conditions as well as provide the requisite support infrastructure for effective and efficient operations of the Super Tucano.
Air Marshal Abubakar, while urging the beneficiaries to ensure that the new accommodations are responsibly utilised, seized the opportunity to express his profound appreciation to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his continued support to the NAF, assuring that the Service would continue to discharge its constitutional roles effectively to ensure the security of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commander 407 ACTG, Squadron Leader Kingsley Igwegbe, thanked the CAS for the numerous welfare projects executed in the Unit.
He noted that this would undoubtedly boost the morale of the personnel and spur them towards the effective accomplishment of the Unit’s tasks of training combat pilots and participating in various combat air operations across the Country.
Also present at the brief ceremony was the NAF Director of Works, Air Commodore Abiola Amodu. It would be recalled that, about two weeks ago, the CAS was in Kainji to commission a newly-reactivated Alpha Jet (NAF 455) as well as a new Technicians’ Crew Room Building and a 2.8Km road network on the Base.