The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Oladayo Amao, has commended the pace of work at the 407 Air Combat Training Group (407 ACTG), Base Kainji, Niger State, and the 109 Combat Reconnaissance Group in Gombe State.
While Kainji is to accommodate the 12 x A-29 Super Tucano aircraft when they arrive Nigeria, Gombe is to serve as the Base for the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) ordered by the Federal Government from China.
AVM Amao was on his maiden operational visit to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) bases in Kainji and Gombe on Wednesday. He said the two locations are ready to receive the Super Tucano aircraft and UAVs on schedule
In Kainji, he assessed the ongoing construction of 3 blocks of 10 single-bedroom Single Officers’ Quarters (SOQ), one block of 6 x three-bedroom Married Officers’ Quarters (MOQ) as well as a block of 30 x single-bedroom Transit Accommodation for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs).
The CAS, who also inspected work on the arming bays, apron and other projects being executed by contractors assigned by the United States Government, stated that it was very clear that all was being done to ensure that virtually all the infrastructure required to accommodate the Super Tucano aircraft would be in place prior to their arrival by the middle of 2021.
Before departing Kainji, the CAS held an interactive session with the officers, airmen and airwomen, where he urged them to remain disciplined and unwavering in their commitment to duty.
In Gombe, the CAS was received on arrival by the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Manasseh Daniel Jatau, and the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, amongst other State Government Officials.
From there he proceeded to inspect infrastructural development at 109 CRG, including the Taxiways, Apron, Aircraft Shelters, Bulk Fuel Installation (BFI), Ammunition Dump, Access Roads as well as Office and Residential Accommodations.
Speaking after the inspection of the facilities, the CAS thanked the Gombe State Government for allocating the 230 Hectares and providing other forms of support towards the speedy establishment of 109 CRG.
He noted that much still needed to be done to make the Base ready to receive the UCAVs, which he said would soon be arriving the Country. He said there was need for the NAF and Gombe State Government to jointly work to connect the Base to the national grid and on the construction of the access road to the Base.
In his remarks, the Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr Manasseh Jatau, expressed extreme delight at the speed at which the NAF was developing facilities at NAF Base Gombe, remarking that it was nothing short of extraordinary.
The CAS was accompanied on the visit by some Branch Chiefs and Directors from Headquarters NAF.
