The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Saturday vowed not to allow the balkanisation of the country by any group.

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, made the vow during NAF’s First Quarter 2018 Route March exercise for personnel serving in Abuja.

The exercise, which was led by Air Chief, with youth corps members also participating, was aimed to keep officers and men of the service physically and mentally fit to enable them perform their statutory role effectively.

The 10-kilometre route march kicked off from Mogadishu Military Cantonment to Niger Barracks and back.

Addressing participants at the end of the exercise, the CAS commended personnel for demonstrating a high level of physical fitness, stating that “today’s security challenges are very complex and require a sound mind in a sound body.”

He also encouraged personnel to remain focused and professional in the discharge of their constitutional role.

According to him, “the NAF would not allow any territory of Nigeria to be undermined by anyone, charging personnel not to be distracted by malicious campaigns from individuals, who are bent creating anarchy in the country.”

While warning personnel not to involve themselves in unconstitutional conducts and partisan politics as the 2019 general elections are fast approaching, he stated that work was in progress to establish a Forward Operational Base (FOB) each in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

He further stated that the FOB in Mubi, Adamawa State would be activated, while an Annex of Headquarters Mobility Command would be established in Akwa Ibom State.

“All these are being done to proactively tackle emerging security issues in the South-South region,” the CAS said.

He thereafter advised personnel not to rest on their oars but redouble their efforts during the year towards accomplishing more.

He then assured personnel of the readiness of the NAF leadership to continually improve their welfare as they continue to act in the defence of the territorial integrity of the nation.