The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday decorated 22 newly promoted air vice marshals and 16 air commodores with their new ranks following their recent elevation by the Air Force Council.

The council had, on December 21, approved the promotion of 22 air commodores to the rank of AVM and 16 group captains to the rank of air commodore.

The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, represented by the Minister of State, Bello Matawalle, said attaining general rank in any military worldwide was an enviable feat.

Mr Badaru said the promotion, especially to air rank, was highly desirable, motivating, rewarding, and most importantly, demanding.

He said the service, and indeed, the entire nation, relied on the new crop of officers to utilise all the knowledge, wisdom, ingenuity, and critical thinking capabilities they had gathered over the years to move the NAF to higher heights and foster a peaceful and greater Nigeria.

The minister reminded the officers that promotion comes with greater expectations and responsibilities, urging them not to lose sight of the ongoing fight against terrorism, banditry, and all other forms of criminality.

“Hence, it is expected that with your upliftment to the ranks of air commodore and air vice marshal, you will redouble your efforts to discharge your duties so we can quickly end all security threats to our dear nation,” he said.

Mr Badaru said that the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, had been forthcoming and remained committed to supporting the Nigerian military in general and the NAF in particular.

“Accordingly, the government is poised to provide the Armed Forces as well as other security agencies with the necessary resources to ensure a peaceful, safe and prosperous nation,” he said.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said the promotion was usually granted in recognition of hard work, commitment, and diligence in most organisations, adding that the military was not an exception.

Mr Abubakar urged them to put on their thinking caps and chart workable strategies to “transform the NAF into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the air power demands of national security in all operational environments.”

“You must remember that we cannot afford to fall short of the expectations of all Nigerians,“ he added.

AVM Suleiman Usman, one of the promoted officers who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the promotion was a call for them to continue to give their very best in the service of the nation.

(NAN)