Molly Kilete
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said it would deploy some of its fighter aircraft and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, to various flashpoints across the county to ensure peaceful conduct of the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections on March 9.
The NAF has also reiterated its resolve to support of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and properties of Nigerians before, during and after the elections.
To this end, NAF said contingency plans had been put in place to counter any break down of law and order while NAF Hospitals and medical centres have been put on the alert to attend to all medical emergencies.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, made this known during his operational briefing to Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja.
The NAF chief’s directives were contained in a statement signed by the Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola.
The statement reads: “In line with the directives of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin, to all services on the need to ensure peaceful conduct of the forthcoming gubernatorial and state Houses of Assembly elections, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) and field commanders to ensure the safety of lives and properties in their various locations.
“This is in addition to the deployment of NAF aircraft, including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, to various flashpoints in support of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
“The CAS stated this during his operational briefing to Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and AOCs held today, 6 March 2019, at the Headquarters, NAF Abuja. The meeting also afforded the AOCs the opportunity to give updates on the level of preparedness and the security arrangements put in place for the conduct of the elections in their various areas of responsibilities (AORs).
“During the meeting, Air Marshal Abubakar noted that contingency plans have been put in place in case of any break down of law and order while NAF hospitals and medical centres have been put on the alert to assist in attending to any medical emergencies.
“The CAS emphasised that the responsibility of commanders is to ensure the security of lives and property of Nigerians. He noted that no excuse would be tolerated for any failure in this regard. He also reminded AOCs that they must ensure that all NAF personnel remain professional in the discharge of their duties whilst ensuring that no individual or group of individuals is allowed to undermine the electoral process.
“He stressed that NAF personnel must endeavour to operate in accordance with the Code of Conduct promulgated by Defence Headquarters (DHQ) for members of the Armed Forces during elections. They must sternly resist any entreaties by unscrupulous politicians to get involved in partisan politics. Air Marshal Abubakar, therefore, urged all eligible voters to come out en-masse to vote for the candidates of their choice.
“The CAS also noted that, as part of its constitutional role of providing aid to civil authority, the NAF assisted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in successfully airlifting a total of 633,790 Kg of electoral materials to 31 different locations across the country from February 12 to March 3, 2019. He highlighted that 8 NAF aircraft were employed in the airlift operation, flying a total of about 340 hours in 257 sorties with about 120 crew members involved, comprising pilots, technicians and other specialties operating on an almost round the clock basis.”