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NAF@58: ‘Improved Synergy Has Enhanced Military Operations’
The Minister of Defence, Major.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd) has said increased level of successes by the Armed Forces was made possible by the level of synergy and cooperation among the services.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja.
According to Gabkwet, Magashi stated this while declaring open, the NAF Day Anniversary Celebration 2022 Seminar held at the NAF Base, Kano.
The minister said that the theme of the seminar, ‘Enhancing NAF’s Operational Efficiency in Joint Operations for Effective Response to Contemporary National Security Imperatives’ was apt, as it would address operational challenges being experienced in the field.
This, Magashi said, particularly in the areas of air to ground integration and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) optimisation in the theatres of operations.
“This is why I believe that this seminar could not have come at a better time as it will facilitate better use of airpower in the joint employment of our armed forces.”
The minister, however, stated that in spite of its limitations, NAF since its inception had commendably carried out the core functions of protecting Nigeria’s air space and providing support to surface forces.
He added that the service had always displayed the highest level of professionalism and shown great resourcefulness in the areas of manpower management, research and development as well as in air operations execution.
Magashi also reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration to revamp the fortunes of NAF and the Armed Forces of Nigeria in general.
‘Today, the fleets of the service have been reinforced with several platforms which has improved its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as attack capabilities and extended the reach of the AFN.”
He, therefore, called on NAF and the AFN in general to renew their commitment and determination to play their part in addressing the security challenges threatening the peace and progress of the country.
Magashi, however, added that the seminar stood out among other activities lined up for the celebration as the deliberations were expected to produce tangible strategies going forward in NAF operations.
He expressed confidence that the discourse would spur better ideas for NAF to be more effective in the discharge of its responsibilities.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said that since assuming office, the president had fully supported the armed forces in general and NAF in particular.
This, he said was to enable them to achieve their set objectives of protecting the territorial integrity of the country against any external threats.
“The Federal Government has committed substantial national resources to enhance the overall capabilities of the armed forces in a bid to addressing the security challenges in various parts of the country.
“This has ameliorated equipment constraints experienced in previous years and the attendant implications of such constraints.
“But it has also spurred NAF personnel to be more committed to the decimation of subversive elements, who seek to undermine the peace, progress, unity and faith of Nigeria.”
Amao also stated that the theme of the seminar was timely as the seminar would enable NAF appraise its current efforts while further repositioning itself to continuously project air power to definitively meet its constitutional mandate.
He, however, recognised and appreciated the unflinching support of the president without which NAF’s achievements would have been unrealisable.
He also expressed deep appreciations to the Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, for his continued support to the service in the state as well as the minister of defence for his support to NAF.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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