The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has disclosed the readiness by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to establish a Forward Operational Base (FOB) in Taraba State.
This is part of plans to further tackle the incessant herdsmen-farmers clash in that part of the country.
The CAS while delivering a lecture to participants of National Defence College (NDC) Course 26 in Abuja, also announced plans to establish a Quick Response Wing along the Benue-Nasarawa axis.
Air Marshal Abubakar also spoke on the current and likely threats as well as contingencies from the perspective of air operations.
He then elucidated on his vision for the NAF while also highlighting current efforts at actualizing it.
Some of the initiatives include establishment of new commands and some units, improvement in human capacity development, improved aircraft serviceability and logistics support as well as enhanced personnel welfare.
He also spoke about the efforts being made in the area of research and development towards improved self-sufficiency, as a result of which the NAF is currently making great savings in foreign exchange.
He further discussed the current NAF Force structure, doctrine, current capabilities and equipment holding in response to threats alongside the NAF’s strategic plan before looking at NAF future perspectives.
The CAS equally examined the challenges and constraints to the NAF’s air power effectiveness before concluding the lecture by discussing the strategies to countering the challenges enumerated.