Security Threat: US Assures NAF Of Support

The United States of America (USA) Government has reiterated its support to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in combating emerging security threats in the country.
A statement by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, said the Adjutant General California National Guard, Maj.-Gen. David Baldwin gave the assurance during a visit to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar in Abuja.
Daramola said the visit was undertaken in furtherance of USA-Nigeria Military-to-Military relations and the State of California Partnership Programme with Nigeria, which has been in existence since 2006.
Baldwin reiterated the commitment of the U.S. Military towards strengthening the existing partnership as well as in ensuring the efficient execution of the contract between the Governments of Nigeria and the USA for the delivery of 12 Super Tucano aircraft to the NAF.
He said the U.S. Military would also collaborate with the NAF in the areas of Air-Ground Integration, intelligence gathering and sharing, pilot training as well as capacity development for cyber warfare, amongst others.
In his response, Abubakar thanked the Adjutant General for the assurances given and the assistance rendered by the US Military to Nigeria over the years.
He noted that the story of the successes recorded in the counter insurgency (COIN) operations in the North East of Nigeria would not be complete without due mention of the support and contributions of the US.
He said that this was crucial because it was in the interest of the International Community to have a secure, stable Nigeria, “given the devastating effects a destabilised Nigeria would have on West Africa and Africa as a whole”.