The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday said its
planes consumed an average of 1.9 million litres of
aviation fuel each month to fight and prosecute
insurgency in the North-East. The Chief of the Air
Staff (CAS), Sadiq Abubakar, an Air Marshal, made
the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the NAF
Logistics Seminar held in Lagos.
planes consumed an average of 1.9 million litres of
aviation fuel each month to fight and prosecute
insurgency in the North-East. The Chief of the Air
Staff (CAS), Sadiq Abubakar, an Air Marshal, made
the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the NAF
Logistics Seminar held in Lagos.
The seminar was tagged: “Repositioning NAF
logistics for Efficient Employment of Air Power in
response to Contemporary National Security
Imperatives’’. The ceremony was attended by the
Minister of Defense, Muhammad Dan-Ali, who was
represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary,
Danjuma Sheni. Also present was the General
Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Maj.-Gen.
Isidore Edet; Flag Officers Commanding (FOCs)
Western Naval and Logistics Commands, Rear Adm.
Fergusson Bobai and Beegroy Ibe-Enwo,
respectively. Air Officers Commanding (AOCs)
Logistics and Tactical Commands, Air Vice Marshal
Sani Ahmed and Air Marshal Muhammad
Mohammed, were also present at the ceremony.
According to the CAS, the NAF has managed to
continue its operations across the country despite
the scarcity of aviation fuel because it was
determined to ensure that no Nigerian territory was
under siege.
“ To support air operations in the North-East, the
NAF must put an excellent plan that will ensure
availability of aviation fuel in the operational area,
whether the product is locally available or not.
“The service consumed an average of 1.9 million
liters of aviation fuel monthly.
“The main fighter air plane we use consumes 2500
liters/hour and we fly at least two air planes at a
time.
“At that consumption rate, the two consume 5000
liters every hour and we run two missions.
“So, we are talking of about 10,000 liters just for
one aircraft time.
“We have so many other airplanes like the Alpha
jets which consume 2400 liters/hour.
“They also fly in formation and that means about
4800 liters.
“There are other air planes that fly on daily basis.
“Our desire is to ensure no territory of Nigeria is
under any threat.
“To achieve that, we must have sound logistics
strategy to ensure that materials and spare parts are
available when required.
“Our logisticians, therefore, must work assiduously
to ensure the product is available for operation.
“In a war situation, no excuse is acceptable.
“To ensure we build capacity in logistics planning,
the NAF has embarked on training and retraining
both within and outside Nigeria,” he said
Abubakar said the service consistently sought ways
of standardising its logistics procedures and
operations in line with current global best practices.
According to him, the seminar was apt, considering
the current security situation in the country which
requires discipline and detailed planning.
“To address the situation, the NAF must together
carefully plan a strategy not only for the movement
of equipment and personnel to theatre of
operations, but also for the maintenance of its air
assets.
“It is only when we get the strategy right that we
can hope to effectively and efficiently deploy air
power necessary to address the challenges facing
Nigeria,’’ he said.
In his address, Mr. Dan-Ali assured that more Boko
Haram hostages would be rescued; urging security
personnel who had made huge sacrifices to ensure
the country stayed united.
“Combat operations against insurgents in the North-
East are still ongoing.
“NAF has remained a major player in carrying out
aerial bombardment leading to the destruction of
Boko Haram elements’ camps and dislodging them
from their strongholds within Sambisa Forest and
adjoining enclaves.
“The sustained air operations have granted a greater
latitude to the ground troops to rescue additional
hostages mostly women and children who were
abducted by the insurgents.
“Boko Haram’s will to fight has been seriously
downgraded,’’ he said.
The AOC, Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal
Sani Ahmed, in his remarks lauded the CAS for his
concerted efforts to enhance facilities and
infrastructure of the service. He stated that the
Logistics Command was poised to provide robust
logistics support for the NAF fleets.
Ahmed added that they were striving to evolve a
credible, responsive and responsible logistics
system that would guarantee timely, effective and
efficient air support in all theatres of operation.
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