By Raphael Jov, Abuja
The Bauchi State Government has donated land within the Lame and Bura Forests to Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for the establishment of an Air Range as part of its contribution to human capacity building.
Governor Mohammed Abubakar announced this weekend during the commissioning ceremony of an outdoor small arms shooting range and other projects recently executed by NAF at its Base in Bauchi.
The other projects commissioned during the event included 2 blocks of Commanders’ Quarters, one block of 6 x 2 bedroom Married Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ Accommodation, one block of 10 single room Non-Commissioned Officers’ Accommodation as well as the Quarter Guard, entrance way and Gate of Headquarters Special Operations Command (SOC). A historical Photo Gallery building constructed by the Commander 251 Base Services Group was also commissioned yesterday.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya of NAF, the Bauchi State Governor, who was the Special Guest of Honour, said the NAF has done remarkably well in dealing with most of the security challenges confronting the nation.
He said the NAF had always demonstrated professionalism and discipline in the conduct of its operations while making invaluable sacrifices to ensure peace and security in the country.
The Governor seized the opportunity to once more thank President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the establishment of SOC and the NAF Base in Bauchi.
He also appreciated the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) for his untiring efforts at emplacing necessary facilities in the Base, including the NAF Reference Hospital.
In his remarks, the CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, expressed immense gratitude to the people of Bauchi State for their hospitality and support to the NAF.
He noted that the asymmetric challenges facing the nation had necessitated the establishment of the SOC, and units under its command, in order to sharpen the NAF’s response capability in Internal Security and counterinsurgency operations.
