The Nigerian Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Sadique Abubakar, an Air Marshall, has called on the Airbus Africa and Middle East to improve on its maintenance and logistics support to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the areas of training and prompt provision of spares
He said such support will further boost it’s efforts at dealing with the security challenges confronting the Nation.
The CAS while receiving the President Airbus Africa & Middle East, Mikail Houari, in Abuja said the NAF, in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies, has continued to work assiduously to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians
Airbus is an aerospace and defence company that provides tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft. They also provide civil and military rotorcraft solutions.
The air chief said the nature of threats confronting Nigeria required strategic partnerships at governmental and non-governmental levels, not just within Africa but also in Europe and other parts of the world.
Abubakar noted that by the virtue of it’s human and natural resources, as well as its Geo-strategic location, Nigeria deserves the support of all its partners and friends to deal with the security challenges facing it.
He further said NAF personnel were wholeheartedly committed, to dealing with the terrorists and other criminal elements to ensure a secured Nigeria.
He noted however that this would require the support of friends and partners, through the provision of robust technical support and training for more effective and efficient employment of Air Power.
CAS stressed that Airbus Africa and other companies could play their part, in this regard, by ensuring shortened delivery times while also providing more comprehensive after sales services.
On his part, Mikail Houari who was accompanied by other executives of the company noted that Airbus Africa was extremely proud of being a part of the NAF’s contributions to national security over the years.
He said the Company, being a responsible partner, was not unaware of the needs of the Service at this critical time and would do its utmost to meet these requirements.
He promised that Airbus Africa would continue to do its best to provide needed equipment, spares, services as well as training, in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Houari, stated that the Company had established a foundation to support young technology start-up companies, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. This, he said, was another way of recognizing the critical importance of Nigeria and indeed the whole of Africa to Airbus.
He commended the NAF for its immense contributions as well as the sacrifices made by its personnel in the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality in the Country.
According to the statement signed by Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, on Wednesday,others present at the event were Headquarters NAF Principal Staff Officers as well as Airbus Africa & Middle East executives. One of the highlights of the visit was the presentation of models of 2 Airbus-produced aircraft to the CAS.
Stella Enenche, Abuja
