The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has called for support from relevant civil organisations in the current war against terrorism and other forms of criminalities in Nigeria.

He made the call during his operational visit to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) 115 Special Operations Group (SOG) in Port Harcourt, where he noted the critical role being played by the Unit towards Nigeria’s security.

He added that the visit would enable him to assess the level of progress on the ongoing reactivation of two NAF helicopters towards increasing the NAF’s operational efficiency.

According to a statement issued on Friday by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, the CAS expressed his satisfaction with the evolving unique partnership between military and civil organisations, as being witnessed in the Unit.

“It is gratifying to note that the technical crews of the NAF and Aero Contractors are working together to reactivate the NAF Dauphin Helicopter,” he said.

The CAS thanked the management of Aero Contractors, Overland Airways and Innoson Group, all of who are rendering various technical services to the NAF, at no or minimal costs to the NAF. He described the gesture of the three companies as being exemplary and worthy of emulation.

“At times like this, the nation and the military, in particular, require all available indices of power to ensure total victory. We therefore urge other relevant civil organisations to take a cue from the aforementioned organisations by supporting the NAF in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria,” he added.

“Air Marshal Abubakar also commissioned a new residential building, designed to accommodate 120 new and incoming recruits. The block was named after Late NAF09/24099 Aircraftwoman Abdulmalik H. for her gallantry and sacrifice to the nation, in line with the NAF's desire to preserve the memories of fallen heroes and heroines. Late Abdulmalik died on 25 November 2012 during a suicide bomb attack at the Jaji Cantonment Kaduna by members of the Boko Haram Sect,” the NAF Spokesman said.

The CAS and his entourage witnessed a demonstration by the Unit’s Repelling Team after which the CAS interacted with the officers as well as the airmen/airwomen in two separate meetings. According to Air Marshal Abubakar, the best of ideas are not necessarily limited to the top hierarchy and hence his decision to interact with the personnel.