NAF promotes 14 generals, 139 officers as Reps mull law to enhance operations

CHEERY news came the way of officers of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) as the leadership yesterday, announced the promotion of 153 of them including 14 generals to their next ranks.

A release by the Director of Public Relations and Information (DoPRI) Air Commodore Dele Alonge yesterday in Abuja shows that 14 officers are now promoted to Air Vice Marshal (AVM), 26 to Air Commodore, 22 as Group Captains and 91 to Wing Commanders.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has assured of its determination to introduce legislative measures that would aid the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) in the discharge of its statutory functions.

Chairman, House Committee on Air Force, Samson Okwu, while addressing the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and members of the House Committee on Air Force, during an interactive session in Abuja, said the Air Force panel has already set targets aimed at tackling any challenges being faced by NAF in line with the legislative agenda of the eighth House of Representatives.

He stressed that the on-going fight against insurgency and the dreaded Boko Haram in some parts of the country calls for a more proactive, well-equipped and dependable force that will provide security for Nigerians.
“We shall leave no stone unturned to achieve a very secure and comfortable environment for our populace. As a parliamentary procedure and in line with the discharge of our oversight functions, we want to be briefed on the general activities of the Nigeria Air Force. The Committee would also want to know your role in the on-going fight against insurgency in the north-eastern part of the country.”

Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, who led other management staff to the interactive session last weekend pledged that to continue to leverage on the cordial relationship with the committee for the good of the Nigerian people.

Abubakar assured that Nigeria Air Force was capable of effectively discharging its constitutional roles, adding that efforts by the NAF to commence manufacturing of aircraft spares in Nigeria have reached advanced stage.

The new two-star general-AVMs include Onyemaechi Osahor, who is the Chief of Aircraft Engineering at the NAF headquarters, the Director of Works at the Headquarters Shehu Adamu; Director Air Intelligence also at the Headquarters Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman; Principal Air Staff Officer to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Abdul-Wahab.

Also promoted are the Commander 75 Strike Group Yola, Isiaka Amao; Commander 303 Flying Training School Kano, John Baba; Commander 81 Air Maritime Group Benin, Air Vice Marshal Okechukwu Ntukogu; a Directing Staff at the National Defence College, Humphrey Okpala; Commander 203 Medium Airlift Group Ilorin, Yekeen Ishola; Director of Information Communication Technology at the National Defence College, Christian Dii; the Managing Director Nigerian Air Force Housing and Construction Company, Sambo Usman; Commander 335 Base Services Group Kaduna, Auwal Muhammad; Director Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency, Charles Otegbade, and Commander 333 Logistics Group Kaduna, Isyaka Bukar.

Those promoted from the rank of Group Captain to Air Commodore are: Emmanuel Udenyi, Aliyu Bello, Iboro Etukudo, Chiebonam Ozougwu, Abidemi Marquis, Abubakar Liman, Pius Oahimire, Kabiru Aliyu, Ubrufih Uzezi, Nkem Aguiyi, Sule Lawal and Paul Masiyer.

Others are Isah Muhammad, Kurotimi Obidake, Dalhat Ladan, Adeniyi Amesinlola, Olagoke Ogunmola, Raheem Tijani, Obainana Imafidor, Framah Batnah, John Dibal, Mohammed Sini, Barisi Keenam, Sunday Ogba, Habib Adamu and Emma Enam.’