PMB pledges continued collaboration with partners and International Community for solution to insecurity

—Inducts three aircraft

Abiodun OBA

The President, Major General Muhammad Buhari (retd), on Thursday, pledged his Administration’s readiness to continue working with partners and other members of the International Community.

The president who made the promise in Makurdi at the induction of three JF-17 Thunder aircraft into the Nigerian Airforce base said the collaboration was necessary in order to collectively evolve solutions to the common challenges of terrorism and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which, of course, have varying degrees of sub-regional, regional and global impacts. 

President Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen Bashi Magashi said also called on Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political differences to unite as one entity and work towards the growth of the country.

The president said, “I wish to use this opportunity to encourage all law-abiding citizens to continue to stand together, irrespective of ethnic, tribal, religious or political affiliations, to pursue the greater goal of a secured, united and prosperous nation for us and our generations yet unborn, as we have no other alternative than to do this.

“I believe our Nations will continue to take steps that would deepen our bilateral relations for the betterment of our peoples. 

“This Administration will continue to work with our partners and other members of the International Community in order to collectively evolve solutions to the common challenges of terrorism and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which, of course, have varying degrees of sub-regional, regional and global impacts. 

“Indeed, such mutually beneficial interactions are part of our commitment to a whole-of-nation and whole-of-humanity approach to dealing with insecurity in Nigeria, West Africa and the entire African Continent.”

The President, commended Nigerian Air Force for its critical roles in national security and in peace-keeping operations on the African Continent in places like Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Mozambique and Liberia.

Speaking earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said that with the three new aircraft acquired, the service now has 26 aircraft in its fleet.

According to him, “Let me place on record that under the current administration, the NAF has inducted 23 brand new aircraft into its inventory from 2015 till date.

“The induction of the three JF-17 thunder aircraft brings the total no of new aircraft inducted to 26.

“These aircraft have significantly boosted our operational effectiveness in the fight to defeat all threat to the nation and its citizenry.