Benjamin Auta
6 January 2009
Presdent Umaru Musa Yar'adua has donated two aircrafts from his Presidential Airfleet to the Nigerian Airforce, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin said yesterday..
He made the announcement while decorating 38 newly promoted Generals of the Nigerian Airforce (NAF)at the NAF headquarters in Abuja.
"The president has graciously donated two of his aircrafts from the Presidential Airfleet, a Donier 228 and a Cessna Citation to the Nigerian Airforce," he said.
The Airforce Chief said that all monies for capital expenditure in the 2009 budget meant for the NAF would be geared towards reactivating aircrfafts in the NAF fleet, adding that the force might showcase some of its aircrafts during independent anniversary celebration on October 1.
" I don't want to start erecting structres and other projects that are not necessary because I want a reasonable part of our airfleet working that is why we are requesting that all monies allocated to the NAF for capital expenditure for 2009 be used in the reactivation of aircrafts," he added.
He said that his vision for the NAF "is to rebuild the operational capabilities of the force adding further that officers promoted most strive to attain greater goals as well as remain forthright in their resolve to raise the Airforce to an enviable height."
Air Marshal Petinrin said "we are looking at a way the NAF foundation will set up an avaition fund where our contractors can go to, as any aircraft we cannot maintain in Nigeria means that we don't need it."
While congratulating the newly promoted officers, Air Marshal Petinrin said that more is expected from the officers as they are expected to live up to the new statues as Generals in the NAF.
Nine of the senior officers promoted are from the rank of Air Commodres to the rank of Air Vice Marshal while the remaining 29 are from the rank of Group Captains to the rank of Air Commodores.
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