Kingsley Omonobi
6 January 2009
Abuja — One hundred senior Air force officers including nine Air Vice Marshals, 29 Air Commodores and 62 Group Captains were yesterday decorated with their new ranks across the country with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petirin in Abuja, ordering the immediate establishment of the Nigerian Airforce Aviation Maintainnace Company, with a view to checkmating the sharp practices of foreign maitenance companies involved in repairs of NAF aircraft.
According to the Chief, the unethical presentation of maintenance cost by the conservators and vendors of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) platforms, was responsible for the present poor state of its fleet hence he has directed the immediate stoppage of foreign maintenance of its aircraft.
Disclosing that the new NAF Aviation Maintenance Company that would vet cost of maintenance among other functions, Petirin said, the major priority of his stewardship as entrenched in his Vision was the reactivation of all NAF platforms and the serviceability of its fleet because the business of the airforce is about flying.
Saying that there is a need for all personnel of the NAF to key into the CAS Vision for the Service as the organization tends to benefits when everybody buys into and supports the vision of the leadership, Petinrin said "when I took over as the CAS our aircraft serviceability was not as desired and I decided that an air force that a cannot fly is not an air force
Said he, "with the 2009 budget, we are not going to renovate buildings or build sport complexes rather all funds allocated to capital projects must go towards the reactivation of our aircrafts. All the authorities have agreed and supported us.
To back his assertion, the CAS disclosed that it was aftermath of discussions with President Yar"Adua, that led to the donation of two aircrafts to the fleet of the NAF by the President pointing out that henceforth, all maintenance must be carried out in-country.
Continuing, the CAS said the Aviation Maintenance Company which would be floated by the Nigerian Airforce Foundationthat would be in charge of the maintenance of its fleet.
The company would also be vested with vetting the cost of maintenance as presented by NAF's contractors and vendors especially when it comes to aircrafts maintenance, to ensure their bills are in accord with international best practices, as far as cost is concerned.
"If we are able to bring down the cost of maintenance then even with the same amount of money that we have always been given, we will be able to maintain more aircrafts" he posited.
Reiterating that the contractors and suppliers have been notified that "it is no longer business as usual" the CAS emphasized that aircraft maintenance of its aircrafts must be carried out in-country in order to bring down the cost of maintenance.
The Air Vice Marshals decorated include Moses Akiola Akinsanmi, formerly Commander of Presidential Air Fleet, AVM Sikiru Oladimeji Smith, AVM Alex Badeh, AVM Clement Aroriode, AVM Ibrahim Salihu, AVM Hassan Nasheu, AVM Kunle Iyonayo.
Among the Air Commodores are Emmanuel Jekada, Saidu Suleiman, Chis Ifemeje, Emmanuel Ozegbe, Nosakhare Anthony Ogbeide, Toni Adokwu, Hussein Sabo, and Abayomi Bankole.
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