Osinbajo Commends NAF’s Confidence, Charges Force To Collaborate More To Enhance Capacity

Описание: SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE 59TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE NIGERIAN AIR FORCE, AT THE NAF BASE IN ENUGU STATE ON THE 6TH OF MAY, 2023

PROTOCOLS

I’m delighted to be in your midst today to celebrate the 59th anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force, established in 1964 by an Act of the Nigerian Parliament to preserve Nigeria’s territorial Integrity through the employment and projection of air power.

And I bring you the very warm felicitations of His Excellency, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, who, as you know, is away out of the country and would have loved to be here himself.

I’m proud to say that the Air Force has, in the years since its establishment, proved its metal both locally and internationally and I must add that I’m impressed by the displays put up by the officers, air men and air women of the Nigerian Force at this ceremonial event, especially in the march past, the parade and the colourful ariel exhibition.

These displays aptly demonstrate the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to achieving high standards of operational readiness. Indeed, our Air Force is willing, able and ready.

I’d like to commend the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao CFR, and his team for the commendable leadership that they have shown in providing for the Nigerian Air Force. As the air arm of the Armed Forces, the Nigerian Air Force has shown that despite its challenges in terms of the quality of manpower talents, creativity and capability, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best in the world.

As a country, we are proud that in less than four years, we’ve been able to revitalize our armed forces. And in keeping with his promise as the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, he would prioritize the restoration of professionalism in the military to enable all of them effectively discharge their responsibilities, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari ensured that substantial investments have been made in acquiring new platforms and other support equipment for the military and other security agencies as well as reactivating and upgrading existing platforms.

In the last four years, the administration acquired new air platforms for the Nigerian Air Force, such as the JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter aircraft, the A29 Super Tucano aircraft, the Diamond 62 aircraft and the T129 attack helicopter beach craft and the unmanned aerial systems, and we have just commissioned two of those platforms that had been purchased earlier by this administration.

The Air Force has also reactivated several aircraft, and worth noting that the procurement process for military hardware has been reviewed to remove inefficiency and to introduce transparency. For example, the procurement process for the purchase of the 12 Super Tucano aircraft in 2018 was done through a transparent, first-of-its-kind government-to-government deal with the United States of America.

It is evident that the huge investments in the capacity development of the Nigerian Air Force have helped to turn the tide against terrorists and other violent non-state actors in our nation.

We must also commend the renewed focus on research, innovation and self-reliance by the Chief of Air Staff. This is far-sighted, and it builds on a tradition that the Air Force has established in the years of this administration of research, of doing creative work and trying to strengthen our Air Force in various ways.


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The official YouTube Channel for Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, Nigerian Lawyer and Politician who served as the Vice President of Nigeria from the 29th of May 2015 to the 29th of May 2023. Before this, he served as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

With a background in law and governance, he currently chairs the Climate Action Platform for Africa and serves as a Global Advisor for the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. He's also the Guardian of the Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation and Chair of Future Perspectives.

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