The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has lauded Nigerian Air Force (NAF) troops for “exceptional performance” in the ongoing Joint Task Force in the South-East code-named ‘Operation Udo Ka II’.

Mr Abubakar said this on Thursday in Enugu during his maiden visit and tour of operational and training assets and facilities within NAF Ground Training Command, Enugu.

He noted that NAF troops had done exceptionally well and recorded a series of successes in the joint operation to keep the South-East safe and secure for all.

The air force chief also noted that the command was vital to NAF as it housed the ground component (non-technical component) and a unit of air component necessary to ensure the attainment of its mandate.

He said, “Today, we are in Enugu, which is the host of the GTC command, on our maiden visit, and we are here to interact with the NAF personnel and see the facilities and infrastructure on the ground. We are also here to encourage the personnel to continue to do the good job they had been doing before now.

“The GTC Command and the Air Training Command are key to all of our activities in NAF and the two commands ensure we have adequate and skilled manpower for all our activities and operations. I am also here to strengthen our activities within Operation Udo Ka II, in which Enugu is the headquarters, and see how we can achieve greater successes than what we are having now and ensure that the South-East is totally secured.”

He disclosed that 750 personnel were currently undergoing training and would be graduating between December 2023 and January 2024.

“These training are important to us in terms of our operation and the current number is very significant amount of manpower to be injected into our operations and other activities in the country,” he said.

Upon inspection of the new GTC command headquarters, new 553 base services group (BSG) Headquarters, and BSG Annex, Mr Abubakar said he was quite satisfied and impressed with the pace, level, and quality of work already done.

“I have taken out time to inspect the projects and asked questions about the projects, and I tell you that I am satisfied with what is on the ground, and all our assets and facilities are well maintained and protected,” he said.

(NAN)