Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), urged the 12 recently graduated pilots of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to leverage their training and contribute significantly to ongoing national security efforts. CAS Abubakar emphasized the necessity of injecting fresh energy into independent and joint operations to sustain successes in various theaters of operation.
Addressing the Basic Flying Course-20 winging ceremony at the 403 Flying Training School (FTS), Kano, on November 23, 2023, CAS Abubakar highlighted the significance of the event amid the NAF’s increased capabilities, thanks to the government’s commitment to providing essential platforms and equipment for combating terrorism and insurgency.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by the acquisition of new platforms, emphasizing the need for a three-year training plan starting from January 2024 to address manpower gaps. The graduation of Basic Flying Course-20 was seen as a positive step in bridging the pilot deficiency gap.
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CAS Abubakar reminded the new pilots of the fluid security environment, emphasizing threats from terrorists in the North, banditry, and kidnapping nationwide. He also pointed out challenges to national unity from secessionist groups in the Southeast and economic threats from crude oil theft in the South. The call to elevate the NAF to greater heights echoed the ongoing commitment to national security.
Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ananaba, Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command, highlighted the graduation ceremony as the culmination of training activities aimed at producing knowledgeable pilots capable of operating the NAF’s new and highly technical platforms. Since its establishment in 1967, the 403 FTS Kano has trained over 207 pilots, and the addition of 12 fast jet pilots further enhances the NAF’s readiness for upcoming platform inductions.
The ceremony, witnessed by the representative of the Governor of Kano State, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (Rtd), and various military officials, underscores the collaborative effort to strengthen Nigeria’s air capabilities and national security.
