The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has urged Airbus Africa to improve its maintenance and logistical support to the Nigerian Air Force in the areas of training and prompt provision of spares in order to better serve the NAF in its efforts at dealing with the security challenges confronting the Nation.
The Air Chief made while playing host to President Airbus Africa and Middle East, Mikail Houari, and other executives of the company on a courtesy visit at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Abuja.
He highlighted that the nature of the threats confronting Nigeria required strategic partnerships at governmental and non-governmental levels, not just within Africa but also in Europe and other parts of the world. The Air Chief observed that, by virtue its human and natural resource endowment as well as its Geo-strategic location, Nigeria deserves the support of all its partners and friends to deal with the security challenges facing it.
He noted that the NAF, in synergy with sister Services and other security agencies, has continued to work assiduously to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians.
He further said NAF personnel were wholeheartedly committed, highly motivated, willing, able and ready to deal with the terrorists and other criminal elements to ensure a secured Nigeria. He noted however that this would require the support of friends and partners, through the provision of robust technical support and training for more effective and efficient employment of Air Power, stressing that Airbus Africa and other companies could play their part, in this regard, by ensuring shortened delivery times while also providing more comprehensive after sales services.
In his response, Houari commended the NAF for its immense contributions as well as the sacrifices made by its personnel in the fight against insurgency and other forms of criminality in the Country.
He noted that Airbus Africa was extremely proud of being a part of the NAF’s contributions to national security over the years.
Houari said the Company, being a responsible partner, was not unaware of the needs of the Service at this critical time and would do its utmost to meet these requirements.
He promised that Airbus Africa would continue to do its best to provide needed equipment, spares, services as well as training, in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Houari, stated that the company had established a foundation to support young technology start-up companies, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. This, he said, was another way of recognizing the critical importance of Nigeria and indeed the whole of Africa to Airbus.
