NAF To Strengthen Partnership With Civil Aviation Agencies – AVM Amao

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reiterated willingness to collaborate with agencies under the Ministry of Aviation, in the areas of security of navigational infrastructure, calibration of navigational aids, training of personnel and safety of the airspace as well as exchange programmes.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving a team of senior officials from the various agencies, led by the Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, on a condolence visit to NAF Headquarters in Abuja, on the recent air crash that claimed the lives of 7 NAF personnel.

While expressing sadness over the loss of the personnel, the Chief of Air Staff stated that the proposed deepening of partnership between the NAF and civil aviation agencies would further enhance efforts of the NAF to improve flight safety and, by extension, operational effectiveness.

A release signed by the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, AVM Ibikunle Daramola, the CAS noted that, other areas of concern include the certification of all the aviation personnel in the industry.

He stated that the Service is made up of highly skilled human resources that could be of tremendous assistance to the society upon retirement.

He assured the DG that a Team of NAF personnel would be tasked to liaise with the NCAA and other agencies with a view to formalizing the partnership with a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that would further improve inter-agency collaboration for mutual benefit whilst also enhancing the security and management of the Nigerian airspace.

AVM Amao also used the opportunity to express his appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Aviation for including the NAF Aprons in Maiduguri and Monguno as part of ongoing work to emplace and upgrade aviation facilities in Borno State, noting that it impact positively on its operations in the North East.

Earlier in his remarks, the DG NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, emphasized that, though cooperation exists between the NAF and NCAA, there were many areas of cooperation yet to be explored for the benefit of the Nation.

He disclosed that possible areas of cooperation include Airspace Management, Civil licensing for NAF personnel, approval for some institutions that the NAF has established like the International Helicopter Flying School in Enugu as well as its Aviation Medicine Examination Centre in Kaduna.

He noted that the collaboration was to ensure that both the military and civil authorities have a ‘360’ view of the airspace for full development of the country.

Captain Nuhu further urged that a team comprising NAF officers be constituted to come up with terms of reference for the MoU between the military and civil organizations in the aviation industry especially, at this time when the NAF is playing a very critical role in the fight against insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality in the Country.

He expressed confidence that the CAS and his team would undoubtedly move the NAF to a much greater heights to achieve the much desired peace for the development of the Nation.