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NAF To Improve Military Technology, Weaponry

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday said it would continue to intensify efforts in local Research and Development (R&D) programmes to improve military technology and weaponry for modern warfare.
The Chief of Standards and Evaluation, NAF, AVM Micheal Onyebashi, said this during the logistics command 2024 inter-units research and development competition at 631 Aircrafts Maintenance Depot, Lagos.
The theme of the competition was: ‘Building Air Power Capability Through Prioritisation Of R&D To Improve Logistics Support For NAF Operational Effectiveness”.
The Tide source reports that nine NAF units participated in the competition with a total of 10 projects displayed.
Onyebashi, represented by the Director, R&D, NAF, AVM Samuel Okoro. said that armed forces of more advanced nations were renowned for pioneering efforts in revolutionary researches and breakthrough discoveries in various areas.
According to him, such landmark products and discoveries from military research and development have contributed immensely to the improvement of military technology and weaponry which has greatly impacted modern warfare.
“NAF understands the importance of research and innovation in order to efficiently fulfil its assigned roles, therefore, the service places a high premium on R&D,” he said.
The AVM said that the programme was in line with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar’s command Philosophy – “prioritising R&D leveraging cutting-edge technology, strategic partnership and lessons learnt”.
“This competition is, therefore, an indication that the logistics command in particular and NAF in general are equally aspiring to leave their footprints on the global stage.
“Currently, the nation is facing multifaceted internal security challenges in the various geo-political zones.
“It has, therefore, become more imperative for NAF to look inwards towards developing indigenous technological capacity and gradually wean itself off the current over dependence on foreign technology,” he said.
Onyebashi commended the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Logistics Command, AVM Yaro Abdullahi, for efforts at harnessing the potential in utilising indigenous resources for research and development projects.
“I am pleased at the number of projects on display at the various stands today.
“It renews the hope that with ingenuity, determination and the right leadership, NAF personnel can indeed achieve much.
“I strongly believe that by joining hands together and building strong partnership, there is no challenge that we cannot surmount as a service and as a nation,” he said.
The AVM said he was optimistic that the event would eventually produce products to aid the enhancement of NAF operations and development of the nation at large.
He urged the command to ensure fruitful collaborations with relevant stakeholders to fund more R&D activities.
Speaking, Abdullahi said the objective of the competition was to showcase the command’s creativity towards finding solution to operational, maintenance and other service related problems in the force.
“Nigerian Air Force being a technology driven organisation places a high premium on research and development.
“One of the cardinal enablers of the Chief of Air Staff command philosophy is “proactive logistics support and strong maintenance culture.
“To further promote the noble idea and ensure its actualisation, the headquarters of NAF introduced the annual R&D competition at the command and unit levels,” he said.
The AOC said t was necessary to look inwards to solve the challenges encountered in procuring aircraft spares, weapons and equipment acquisition for prosecution of war against terrorism and banditry.
“Therefore, it has become necessary for NAF to provide some of its defence equipment and system needs through innovative knowledge and skills.
“It is gladdening that logistics command is contributing its quota towards achieving the desired self-reliance aimed at sustaining NAF operations across the country,” he said.
Abdullahi commended the participating units for committing their resources and to come up with the projects in spite other competing demands in the unit.
He also thanked the Chief of Air Staff for providing the enabling environment for the competition to hold.
The Tide source reports that 631 Armament Support Group, Kainji with the design and construction of A-29 Super Tucano Electrically operated external store loader received the first position.
While 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot with the design and fabrication of Actuators and Valves Test Stand came second, the Communications Information Systems Depot, Shasha, with the design of the Tactical Mobile Combat Helmet received the third position.

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FG Ends Passport Production At Multiple Centres After 62 Years

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The Nigeria Immigration Service has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this yesterday while inspecting Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja.

He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.

“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.

He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.

“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.

 “We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.

“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.

He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.

Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.

He said the centralised production system aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for better service delivery.

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FAAC Disburses N2.225trn For August, Highest In Nigeria

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The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed N2.225 trillion as federation revenue for the month of August 2025, the highest ever allocation to the three tiers of government and other statutory recipients.

This marks the second consecutive month that FAAC disbursements have crossed the N2 trillion mark.

The revenue, shared at the August 2025 FAAC meeting in Abuja, was buoyed by increases in oil and gas royalty, value-added tax (VAT), and common external tariff (CET) levies, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting.

Out of the N2.225 trillion total distributable revenue, FAAC said N1,478.593 trillion came from statutory revenue, N672.903 billion from VAT, N32.338 billion from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and N41.284 billion from Exchange Difference.

The communiqué revealed that gross federation revenue for the month stood at N3.635 trillion. From this amount, N124.839 billion was deducted as cost of collection, while N1,285.845 trillion was set aside for transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings.

From the statutory revenue of N1.478 trillion, the Federal Government received N684.462 billion, State Governments received N347.168 billion, and Local Government Councils received N267.652 billion. A further N179.311 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) went to oil-producing states as derivation revenue.

From the distributable VAT revenue of N672.903 billion, the Federal Government received N100.935 billion, the states received N336.452 billion, while the local governments got N235.516 billion.

Of the N32.338 billion shared from EMTL, the Federal Government received N4.851 billion, the States received N16.169 billion, and the Local Governments received N11.318 billion.

From the N41.284 billion exchange difference, the Federal Government received N19.799 billion, the states received N10.042 billion, and the local governments received N7.742 billion, while N3.701 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the oil-producing states as derivation.

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KenPoly Governing Council Decries Inadequate Power Supply, Poor Infrastructure On Campus

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The Governing Council of Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, has decried the inadequate power supply and poor state of infrastructural facilities and equipment at the institution.

The Council also appealed to the government, including Non-Governmental Organisations, agencies, as well as well-meaning Rivers people to intervene to restore and sustain the laudable gesture, dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the polytechnic.

The Chairman of the newly inaugurated Council, Professor Friday B. Sigalo, made this appeal during a tour of facilities at the  Polytechnic, recently.

Accompanied by members of the team, Prof Sigalo emphasised the position of technology, technical and vocational education in sustainable development.

He noted that with the prospects on ground, and the programmes and activities undertaken in the polytechnic, there is no doubt that the institution would add values to the educational system in our society and foster the desired development, if the existing challenges are jointly tackled.

This was contained in a statement signed by Deputy Registrar, Public Relations, Kenpoly,  Innocent Ogbonda-Nwanwu, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt.

The chairman who restated the intention of his team of technocrats to ensure that KenPoly enjoys desirable face-lift, said the Council would deliver on its core mandates, accordingly.

Earlier, the Rector, KenPoly Engr. Dr. Ledum S. Gwarah, commended the appointment of Professor Friday B. Sigalo as Chairman of the KenPoly Governing Council.

He described him and his team as seasoned technocrats and expressed confidence in their ability to succeed.

The Rector pledged the management’s support to the Council to ensure that KenPoly resumes its rightful place in the comity of polytechnics in the country.

Facilities visited by the Governing Council include KenPoly workshops, laboratories, skills acquisition centre, library, hostels and medical centre.

 

Chinedu Wosu

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