Boko Haram: Air Force Steps Training For Personnel

From Shettima Abdullahi, Kaduna.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadeeq Abubakar, said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) trained 2, 810 of its personnel in the last nine months to enhance their professional efficiency.
Abubakar said this in Kaduna during the 2016 NAF training seminar.
He said the purpose was to have an efficient force that would respond “timely and effectively” to any threat.
The seminar has as its theme, “Optimising Human Capacity Development to Enhance Professionalism in the NAF.’
According to him, 2, 275 personnel have been trained locally while 535 were sent abroad for specialised training in different fields.
He said effort was on to review the NAF training structure, by inducting new training aircraft, upgrading the Air Force Regiment Training School, and improving training infrastructure in all NAF institutions.
“Equally, we will continue to provide the equipment, facilities and environment for training schools to impart the desired knowledge by adopting modern training techniques,” Abubakar said.
He noted that the seminar was aimed at boosting training in the service”`to give greater effect to our operational engagement and effectiveness.”
The Air Force chief, therefore, challenged the participants to suggest cost-effective training methods for personnel.
They should also suggest the best way to win the hearts and minds of the populace as well as how to uphold human rights during operational engagements.
Air Officer, Training Command, AVM W.A. Ahmed, said the seminar was part of plans to enhance the capacity of personnel “for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security imperative.”
He noted the challenges of competing demands for funds, and advised officers and men to be more resourceful and innovative in the discharge of their duties.