Pakistan, Russia Fighter Jets Set To Join War Against Boko Haram- NAF

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will take delivery of war -planes and helicopters from Pakistan and Russia to boost its fleet ahead of the final push against Boko Haram insurgents, it was learnt yesterday.

Nigeria has failed to procure fighter jets from the United States and Brazil.

Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who broke the news in Abuja, said  Air Force personnel were undergoing training in many countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Egypt and China.

The news came as Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai ordered his men to end the insurgency this month.

Air Marshal Abubakar said: “We have been enjoying support from other countries. Sometimes arms procurement is shrouded in a lot of politics. Unfortunately, I’m not a politician, so I cannot say much on that. But what I can tell you is that right now we are expecting the Pakistani Chief of Air Staff in Nigeria soon. Pakistan has accepted to sell 10 trainer airplanes. And that is why the Pakistan Chief of Air Staff is coming for the induction ceremony in Kaduna.”

The Chief of Air Staff said the Air Force was assisting the Army and the Navy in the North and South fighting terrorism and militancy through operational strategy, air interdictions strategy and soft-core strategy.

He said the objective was to create an enabling environment for the ground and surface forces to operate with little or no hindrance.

He said the Service was carrying out massive reactivation of redundant aircraft and many of them are already involved in the fight against Boko Haram.

“Another sub -strategy is the reactivation of airplanes. We have embarked on the reactivation of airplanes and today we are on the 13th aircraft. What I mean by reactivation is that aircraft that were not involved in any fight before the coming of this Federal Government; they were parked before but are today part of the fight.

“The 13th aircraft as I speak to you is being worked upon in Yola and we are hoping that before the end of this month that airplane will be flying. When you train, you must reactivate the platform to be used in flying.”

He praised the competence of NAF pilots, saying:  “In the last 18 months, we have flown almost 3000 hours with no incident. The pilots are among the most competent. Because the training curriculum is very clear. And that is why now in the Air Force you look at the wings, pilots wear wings. We have categorised the wings according to their skill levels.

Read More:

Pakistan, Russia fighter jets set to join Boko Haram war

Nigerian Air Force Continues Offensive In Borno

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) last week attacked several Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) locations in Northern Borno killing several insurgents and providing cover for many of its own troops.

According to a newly declassified video of the operation made available to The Nation by the Director Of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the attacks were carried out at Kadara, Ngoshe and Kangarwa.

Active in the operations were NAF Alpha Jets, many of which was weaponised by local technicians before being deployed to the Northeast. According to Famuyiwa, on November16, 2016, an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft reported a gathering of BHTs under a tree at Kadari. An Alpha Jet on armed reconnaissance was called in to strafe the location thus killing a number of the insurgents and causing survivors to flee in different directions.

Also on 18 November 2016, NAF fighter jets again carried out a series of coordinated air strikes against BHT locations at Ngoshe. The strike, carried out by a 3-ship formation of Alpha Jets against 5 carefully selected BHT targets, was part of OPERATION RESCUE FINALE by the Nigerian Army.

In Ngoshe, the Alpha jets hit their targets five times while a similar air strike was conducted on another BHT location near Kangarwa on 19 November 2016.

In Kangarwa, based on ISR aircraft request, an Alpha Jet was scrambled for air interdiction at a location close to Kangarwa. The area was strafed with cannon at least two times. On the same day, the NAF provided ISR cover for own ground forces advancing from Ngoshe to Pulka.

NAF Fighter Jet Hits Boko Haram Location In Northern Borno

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets have attacked a number of Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) locations in Northern Borno, killing several insurgents.

This was contained in a statement signed by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa on Tuesday in Abuja.

Famuyiwa said On 16 November 2016, an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft reported a gathering of BHTs under a tree at Kadari adding that an An Alpha Jet on armed reconnaissance was called in to strafe the location thus killing a number of the insurgents and causing survivors to flee in different directions.

He said on 18 November 2016, NAF fighter jets again carried out a series of coordinated air strikes against BHT locations at Ngoshe. The strike, carried out by a 3-ship formation of Alpha Jets  against 5 carefully selected BHT targets, was part of OPERATION RESCUE FINALE by the Nigerian Army.

“A similar air strike was conducted on another BHT location near Kangarwa on 19 November 2016. Based on ISR aircraft request, an Alpha Jet was scrambled for air interdiction at a location close to Kangarwa.

“The NAF, same day, provided ISR cover for own ground forces advancing from Ngoshe to Pulka. Please find enclosed the declassified video of the latest air strikes for your use” the statement added.

Credit: leadership

NAF To Buy 10 Super Mushshak Aircraft From Pakistan

Pakistan has struck a major deal with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to sell 10 Pakistani-made advanced trainer aircraft.

According to the Indian-based Jindu Times, Air Vice Marshal Iya Ahmed Abdullahi and the Chairman of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Air Marshal Arshad Malik signed the contract last Friday in Abuja, PAF spokesman, Air Commodore Syed Mohammad Ali said.

The contract includes operational training and technical support and assistance to the NAF.

“This contract would not only open new avenues for export of aviation equipment to foreign countries but also help in generating revenue for the country (Pakistan),” a PAF statement said.

“The deal further strengthens Pakistan Aeronautical Complex’s (PAC) status as a world-class aviation industry producing the supersonic JF-17 Thunder and Super Mushshak trainer aircraft,” it added.

The Super Mushshak, which is based on a Swedish design but built under licence in Pakistan, is already in service in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran and South Africa.

Talks are also at an advanced stages with Qatar and Turkey for the delivery of Super Mushshak, The Express Tribune quoted a senior PAF official as saying.

Super Mushshak is an advanced variant of the Mushshak basic trainer, which was also produced by PAC.

The PAF put up Super Mushshak for static as well as aerial display in last year’s Dubai Air Show, where some nations expressed interest in the aircraft.

Credit: thisdaylive

NAF explores agriculture to empower barracks youths

Nigerian military is not left out in the nation’s search for a solution to the economic recession the oil-rich nation slid into few weeks ago, as the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, is exploring agriculture to empower youths in barracks.

He is confident that further involvement of youths in agriculture will deepen the economic diversification drive of the government.

Nigeria is battling to get out of its present economic recession made obvious when the National Bureau of Statistics released a second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report.

The report showed a contract in the GDP by 2.06% in the second quarter of 2016.

According to the report, the decline has caused the Naira to get weaker while lower oil prices dragged the oil sector down.

The output shrunk by 0.36 in the first quarter.

During the quarter, nominal GDP was 2.73% higher at 23.48 million Naira at basic prices.

This growth was lower than the rate recorded in the second quarter of 2015 by 2.44% points.

While launching a scheme tagged ‘Barracks Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture (BYETA)’ held at the Air Force Base in Kaduna State, Air Marshal Abubakar said the initiative would empower youths and create jobs.

The Air Chief was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Air Force headquarters, Air Vice Marshal James Gbum.

He explained that the inauguration of the youth empowerment programme was a testimony and determination of the Nigerian Air Force to key into the Federal Government’s policy on diversification of the economy to other non-oil sectors especially agriculture.

The programme, according to the organisers, is designed to engage the youths, particularly those living in the barracks in productive ventures such as poultry, fishery and crops farming that would enable them live meaningful lives independent of their parents or guidance.

While urging the youth to make good use of the opportunity to empower themselves and contribute to the economic development of the nation, the representative of the Chief of Air Staff, enjoined parents and guidance to regularly monitor the progress of their wards in order to achieve the maximum success rate of the programme.

On his part, the Commander, 335 Base Service Group, Air Commodore Bello Garba, said the initiative was launched to further drive home the message of self-reliance and the directive given by the Chief of Air Staff for all secondary schools in the barracks to establish a demonstration farm which he also noted would prepare the youth to be self-reliant.

He told the gathering that in compliance with the directive, the 335 Base Service Group had established a BYETA association with an initial membership of 25 youths at its inception on August 30.

At the moment it has 98 registered members, including 35 engaged in fish farming, 25 in poultry, 26 in livestock and 12 in crop farming.

Some of the beneficiaries said they were pleased with the initiative they believe would empower them, help them feed Nigerians and ensure food security.

The Barrack Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture Programme is open to relatives of Air Force personnel and residents of host communities.

NAF Destroys New Boko Haram Camp, Repel Attack On Troops

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday destroyed a new camp being operated by the Boko Haram sect between Malam Fatori and Kangarwa in northern Borno State.

The attack which was conducted overnight followed an intelligence report that survivors of a similar NAF Mi-17 helicopter attack on August 20 had converged at the new location.

According to the Director, NAF Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, the post-strike Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) mission also revealed that surviving Boko Haram insurgents converged at the new location.

This was followed up by series of follow-up Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that led to the latest strike.

Famuyiwa said: “The air assault is expected to further degrade the capability of the insurgents while fostering the creation of the necessary enablement for own ground troops to operate.”

Read More:

http://thenationonlineng.net/naf-destroys-new-boko-haram-camp-repel-attack-troops/

NAF Successfully Test Fires Locally Weaponized Alpha-Jet

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully test fired another locally weaponized Alpha Jet aircraft acquired from overseas without weapon delivery capability.

The latest feat makes the third Alpha Jet aircraft to be so reconfigured and weaponised locally.

A statement from the NAF spokesman Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said the NAF, at the heat of the Boko Haram insurgency, had acquired three Alpha Jet aircraft from private individuals in the United States however without combat capability.

He said that subsequent efforts to use foreign vendors to re-militarise the aircraft proved abortive for several reasons.

Famuyiwa said: “The challenge led the NAF to look inward for solution locally by assembling a team of engineers and technicians designated NAF “Technical Response Team (TRT)” comprising serving and retired NAF personnel, and civilians.

“The team, has since its inauguration, achieved tremendous successes that have greatly enhanced the operational capability of the NAF, especially with respect to the ongoing fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, as well as saved huge foreign exchange for the nation.

“One other major feat achieved with the latest reconfigured aircraft is its ability to fire rockets and bombs from both the East and West blocks. “

Credit:

http://sunnewsonline.com/naf-successfully-test-fires-locally-weaponised-alpha-jet/

NAF Begins Construction Of Permanent Base In Enugu

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Saturday, revealed that work had commenced on the construction of a permanent base for officers and men in Emene near Enugu metropolis.

The Commander, NAF Base Services Group, Enugu, Air Commodore Ebenezer Alade, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the move would further boost the morale of officers in Enugu.

Alade commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for the special attention given to NAF officers and men in Enugu.The vision of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, is being felt in all units and formations of the NAF, and for us in Enugu, we bear testimony of that vision.

We are all excited about this development of construction of our permanent base in Emene near Enugu.

We are also happy that Enugu has become a re-occurring decimal in the agenda of the Chief of the Air Staff.

Alade, who, however, did not mention the cost of the ongoing project, said that a team of officers from NAF headquarters recently inspected sports facilities in Enugu toward the conduct of NAF Games 2016 later in the year.

All these are pointers to the strategic importance of Enugu to the NAF family,’’ he added.

NAN recalls that the CAS about two weeks ago inaugurated eight projects at Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School, Agbani near Enugu.

The projects inaugurated included a 16-bed ultra modern clinic, drains and reconstructed sections of collapsed school perimeter fence.

Others were the renovated dining hall, five classroom blocks, administrative block, three blocks of students’ hostel and reclamation of eroded football field.

Credit: Guardian

NAF Chief Remanded In Prison Over N166m Contractor’s Gift

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, on Thursday, ordered the remand of the Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Olutayo Oguntoyinbo, in Kuje Prison, pending the hearing of his bail application slated for June 6.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi gave the order of remand shortly after Oguntoyinbo pleaded not guilty to the one count of accepting N166m gift from a NAF contractor.

He allegedly received the gift from the contractor, Société D’ Equipment Internationaux Nigeria Limited, in the course of performing his official duty.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleged that the defendant received the N166m gift from the contractor while serving as the Chief of Training and Operations of the Nigerian Air Force.

Oguntoyinbo allegedly accepted the gift from the contractor through the account of his company, Spaceweb Integrated Services Limited, kept with Wema Bank Plc.

The Air Force officer was said to be the Managing Director of Spaceweb Integrated Services Limited and sole signatory to the bank’s account.

Credit: Punch

Insurgency: Victims Support Fund Donates N20m To NAF

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday said that the service had received N20m from the Victims Support Fund, to support the operation of its Emergency Hospital at IDP Camps in Dalori, Maiduguri,`

This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa and made available to newsmen in Abuja.

It said The Presidential Committee on Victims Support Funds donated the amount to alleviate the suffering of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East.

The statement said the Vice Chairman, VSF, Alhaji Tijani Tumsa, presented the cheque to the Director, Medical Service, AVM Saleh Shinkafi, on behalf of NAF.

The statement explained that the gesture was both an appreciation and a direct response to the humanitarian initiative of NAF to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians affected by the acts of the insurgents.

It also commended NAF for adding humanitarian perspective to its operations in the fight against insurgency.

Shinkafi said in the statement that t the purpose of NAF establishing the hospital was to bridge the gap in the provision of medicare to the IDPs.

The statement added that the gesture by NAF was also to win the hearts and minds of the people with a view to enhancing NAF operations against the insurgents.

“The funds would also be used to upgrade the existing facilities at the NAF Emergency Hospital, Dalori,“it said.

The statement said additional facilities like ultrasound, dental chair and medical consumables would be provided in the hospital.

Others are medical consumables, solar powered lightnings, 20 KVA generator to replace the existing 8 KVA generator at the hospital.

It said NAF had provided medical care to over 30,000 IDPs through its medical outreach in Abuja, Maiduguri and Yola, and the healthcare facility in Dalori.

The statement recalled that the Dalori IDP Camp accommodated the largest population of IDPs numbering about 29,000, making it the most prominent in terms of humanitarian attention in the country.

 

(NAN)

I Changed N7.8bn To Dollars For Badeh – NAF Cashier

A cashier at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters, Emmanuel Abu, on Wednesday narrated to a Federal High Court in Abuja, the role he played in the alleged monthly diversion of N558.2m from the Nigerian Air Force accounts by an ex-Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.).

Abu, who was testifying as the second prosecution witness in Badeh’s ongoing trial, said he routinely converted the N558.2m to dollars which the prosecution alleged was being handed over to the former Air Force chief monthly.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Badeh alongside a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, on 10 counts of money laundering bordering on alleged fraudulent removal of about N3.97bn from the Nigerian Air Force’s account.

The anti-graft agency accused Badeh of using the fund to buy and develop landed assets in Abuja for himself and two of his sons between January and December 2013.

Abu stepped into the witness box after the first prosecution witness, a former Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Aliyu Yishau (retd.), completed his testimony on Wednesday.

Yishau had testified how he was handing over the dollar equivalent of the N558.2m to Badeh at the Chief of Air Staff’s official residence on a monthly basis and also how he helped Badeh to use the money to acquire landed assets in Abuja.

Abu, who was led in evidence by the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), on Wednesday said he converted N558.2m monthly removed from NAF’s Personnel and Emolument account for 14 months between November 2012 and December 2013.

He said within the 14 months period, a total of over N7.8bn was set aside and converted to dollars.

Abu explained that he and the Financial Officer at the headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force Camp, Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, Group Captain Mohammed Lawal Sini, (now Air Commodore), were the only signatories to the six accounts operated by NAF.

He said Sini gave him the instruction for the monthly setting aside of the  N558.2m immediately he (Sini) became the Finance Officer in November 2014, about a month after Badeh assumed the office of the Chief of Air Staff.

He explained that the N558.2m was a monthly leftover in the Personnel and Emolument account of the NAF after the payment of members of staff salaries and entitlements for a particular month.

He said after the payment of the staff salaries the leftover was usually transferred to the other five accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to augment NAF’s overheads and expenditures.

But he said no voucher was ever raised for its disbursement as it was done for other disbursement from other accounts of the NAF.

He said, “The left over in the personnel and emolument account are transferred to five other accounts after paying salaries, because the balance of the salaries are meant for other purposes, and the personnel and emolument account is just for payment of salaries.

“After distributing the money into five accounts, the funds are used to augment the NAF overheads expenditure. We use them to pay estacode, non-regular allowances, training and operations, also purchase of aviation fuel.

“For the expenditure for the fund, we receive approvals from the headquarters of NAF, usually approved by the Chief of Air Staff, however, in November 2012, when the new Camp Finance Officer resumed, he informed me verbally that there was a standing instruction for the sum of N558,200,000 to be set aside monthly for headquarters, NAF training and operational purposes.

“He also informed me that the amount is to be converted to US dollars, except there is any other instruction to the contrary.

“I complied with the instruction and I converted the amount monthly, from November 2012 to December 2013, within the 14 months, a total of N7.8b plus was set aside, out of this, within the 14 months, I received, instruction to transfer a total sum of N410m to HAFCO Nigeria Limited and N875m plus to Right Builders Technologies.

Under cross-examination by Badeh’s lawyer, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Abu confirmed that he never received any instruction relating to the setting aside of the N558.2m and its conversion to dollars.

He also said he had no official record of the dollar equivalent of the N558.2m.

Credit : Punch

 

Ex-NAF Chief, Amosu, Turns Down EFCC’s Offer To Return Funds

There were indications on Tuesday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s interrogation of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), had reached a dead end.

 

 

It was learnt that the commission had asked Amosu and others, who are still being detained over the $2.1bn arms deal, to refund some money or contract sums traced to them.

 

 

It was gathered that the EFCC’s operatives met a brick wall when the former NAF chief refused to make any commitment to return any money or contract sums, which had been allegedly traced to him.

 

The former Chief of Air Staff was being interrogated in connection with 10 contracts awarded by the Nigeria Air Force between 2014 and 2015, totalling $930.5m.

 

As part of moves to recover the funds, the commission was making the signing of an undertaking to refund money as a precondition for granting the suspects administrative bail.

 

 

A source, who did not state the amount the former chief of air staff had been asked to pay, said, “As part of efforts to recover funds looted from the NSA office, suspects are being asked to write an undertaking that they will return the money before granting them administrative bail.

 

Read more: Punch

NAF Begins Local Production Of Aircraft Spare Parts

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has commenced the production of locally-made spares and other related equipment for its aircraft. NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, DOPRI, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, made the disclosure yesterday in a statement made available to journalists.

Alonge said the effort was in a bid to address the challenges associated with spares procurement from third party countries.

He said the Chief of Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in a bold move towards achieving this objective had set up both research and implementation committees comprising three professors and NAF officers in partnership with 28 indigenous universities.

Alonge added that the committees which only recently submitted a combined interim report were grouped into non-destructive testing team, security monitoring system and autopilot cassette team.

He said Air Marshal Abubakar expressed optimism while receiving the interim report that the NAF was at the verge of breaking even at producing locally made spares for maintenance of its aircraft.

According to the CAS, “the research outcomes of the committees will save the country enormous resources in hard currency and the time lag experienced in purchasing spare and military hardware from other countries.”

Credit: NationalMirror

NAF Provides Medicare To IDPs (PHOTOS)

As part of the Nigerian Air Force humanitarian effort at caring for the less privileged and to provide adequate medical care for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East, the Nigerian Air Force Hospital which was established in Dalori IDPs camp in Maiduguri has commenced operation. The Hospital would not only cater for the healthcare needs of the IDPs, but also alleviate the sufferings of victims of terrorism in North Eastern Nigeria.

The 50 bed hospital by United Nations (UN) standard has an Operating Theatre, a Radio Diagnostic Unit, Dental unit, Laboratory, Accident and Emergency Units, Out-Patient and In-Patient facilities for at least 36 patients and a pediatric section. The full fledged NAF Hospital in Dalori IDPs camp is also equipped with facilities for in-patient catering, information and records, central sterile supply unit, maternity section and a pharmaceutical section.

Embedded image permalink

Embedded image permalink
Embedded image permalink
Embedded image permalink

 

Solar Panels, Other Targets Bombarded In Sambisa By NAF Alpha Jets

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in its bid to sustain the ongoing air assault against the Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa Forest, has continued to hit vital targets with a view to decimating the capability and resolve of the members of the sect to continue to fight and cause havoc.

This was contained in a statement signed on Wednesday by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Dele Alonge.

Alonge said the most recent success was the attack on the terrorist targets in Ngoshe and Pulka by the Alpha Jets providing close air support to own ground forces.

He also revealed that the aerial bombardment was instrumental to the recapture of the strategic boundary town of Gamboru-Ngala by the Nigerian army.

“The targets, which include solar panels believed to be used by the sect for generating electricity within the Sambisa Forest, were hit during the recent take-over of Gamboru-Ngala by own troops,” he said.

Read Morethisdaylive

Victory Over Boko Haram Terrorists Our Ultimate Aspiration – NAF

The Nigerian Air Force says its ultimate aspiration is the total decimation of Boko Haram terrorists in the North East of the country.

 Air Commodore Dayo Amao, Commander, 75 Strike Group, Air Force Headquarters gave the pledge in Yola when he spoke with newsmen on a guided tour of territories captured from Boko Haram insurgents.

 “Total victory and nothing short of it is our ultimate aspiration.

 “The air component will press forward in providing adequate support to the ground forces as they advance against insurgents in the North East’’, he said.

Amao disclosed that the air force had flown over 1,600 sorties in aid of ground troops since the war against the terrorists began.

 The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sortie is a mission by a combat aircraft.

 The commander explained that the sorties were either for intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, air transport, close air support for ground troops,  and interdiction (to prevent enemy from entering a location).

 “The efforts of the Nigerian Air Force have been pivotal in the recent successes achieved in the fight against the insurgents.

 “We soften the ground for the ground force to move and occupy the territory’’, he said.

 According to him, we try to avoid collateral damage.

 “That is why we make maximum use of our Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission -, to be sure that only Boko Haram locations are attacked’’, he said. (NAN)