He said: “The Air Force is not only fighting in the air, and therefore, whatever it is that we need to have to fulfill our mandate in the face of the present challenges is what we are working toward putting on the ground.
“We are establishing a new command known as the Special Forces Command as part of ongoing restructuring of our operations.
“The establishment of the Special Forces Command would facilitate the development of NAF’s response capability in both internal and external security operations, as well as increase Nigeria’s self-reliance in strategic security operations.”
Abubakar said the force has taken some policy decisions to enhance its operational capabilities which included upgrading some combat units and establishing new ones.
“Among the upgraded units are the 305 helicopter group and 95 helicopter combat unit.
“The new ones include the establishment of the 89 Combat Group to be located in Bauchi to aid combat operations with air logistics in the North-East.’
“Going forward’’, Mr. Abubakar said, warfare in the Nigerian Air Force would be dictated by advancement in technology and appropriate manpower development,” he said.
He mentioned lack of funds as challenges that have hampered the activities of the force in time past, but added that the Buhari administration had improved its operational capability with additional platforms.
In identifying internal and external security threats faced by the NAF, he listed political indiscipline, insurgency, militancy, state of the economy, unguarded Nigerian borders and proliferation of arms as some of the challenges the force was faced with.
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