In a move targeted at further enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has just concluded a series of operational visits to NAF units in the Lagos Area.

Units visited by Abubakar included the 641 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, 651 Base Services Group, 661 NAF Hospital, all in Ikeja as well as 041 Communications Depot in Shasha.

He inspected one of the operational, 2 x NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft that were undergoing Periodic Depot Maintenance and Life Extension Programme respectively at 641 ACMD, towards restoring both aircraft to serviceability.

Abubakar interacted with expatriates who were undertaking the major aircraft maintenance activities in conjunction with NAF aircraft engineers and technicians.

The Air Marshal expressed satisfaction with the progress of work, especially as there were indications that the maintenance works would be completed within the scheduled period.

He then took the time to visit the class where NAF aircraft engineers and technicians were undergoing instructions aimed at building their capacity to undertake similar major aircraft maintenance activities in the nearest future, as part of the capacity building initiatives of the CAS.

Abubakar also inspected the various workshops and group support equipment in the workshop with a view to ascertaining the levels of progress on various reactivation works.

At 651 BSG, Air Marshal Abubakar inspected several ongoing projects aimed at enhancing the welfare of personnel.

The projects included a block of 10 single room flats for single officers and 6 blocks of 3-bedroom flats for married officers, among others.

Thereafter, the CAS visited the various wards at 661 NAF Hospital, where he inspected the state of facilities in the hospital.

He also inspected the proposed site for the relocation of the hospital.

The planned relocation of the hospital is to accommodate the planned acquisition of more sophisticated medical equipment to upgrade the hospital.

The impending upgrade of the hospital is to boost medical care for NAF personnel, dependants and members of the civil populace within the host community.

On Day 2 of the visit, the CAS commissioned the newly constructed transit accommodation that is designed to accommodate a total of 120 airmen and airwomen at 041 Communications Depot Shasha.
The transit accommodation was built to take care of the personnel that had just been recruited to enhance the operational effectiveness of the NAF.

While commissioning the new accommodation, Air Marshal Abubakar was also able to attend the opening ceremony of the International Maritime Conference conducted by the Nigerian Navy.