Airforce acquires fighter jet, inaugurates quarters

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Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State again on Wednesday said his government could not afford to pay the N18,000 minimum wage recently approved by the Federal Government with its present financial state. He accused his predecessor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, of hurriedly reaching an agreement with the labour force on the wage as one of the landmines buried on the way of his administration. He said Alao-Akala’s sole aim was to ensure that the new administration “was dead on arrival.” Ajimobi made the observations in his maiden broadcast to the people of the state, specifically on the issue of the minimum wage.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, has inaugurated a block of one-storey 12 single officers’ quarters situated at Ekorinim near Calabar in Cross River State.

This came just as the CAS also disclosed that M17 fighter helicopters would soon be added to the Nigerian Air Force fleet.

The inaguration took place on Wednesday and was graced by all service commanders, security dignitaries in the state, including host community chieftains.

Umar said upon assumption of office in September 2010, he found it necessary to reappraise the security landscape of the country for strategic national security and defence.

According to him, he decided that NAF had to pay more attention to the volatile Niger Delta region which generates much of Nigeria’s wealth and is deserving of a more pronounced presence of the NAF.

Umar said, “For this reason, I sought President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval to re-establish the NAF Mobility Command with the headquarters in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State. With this development, I was able to obtain approval for the upgrade of the Forward Operating Base here in Calabar to 207 Special Mobility Group.

In anticipation of the upsurge of personnel to beef up the strategic operations, the NAF boss said the need for accommodation became inevitable.

“The accommodation is to enable many of our young air personnel, including pilots who are to fly the M17 Russian helicopters expected to come into Calabar for the strategic complex missions, to have more conducive accommodation as well as for other officers that may be in transit,” he said.

Reiterating the resolve to ensure the security of the nation’s geo-strategic and socio-economic interests, Umar maintained that the inauguration of the edifice marked the beginning of NAF’s commitment to improving its presence in the state.

He added that they would soon build the permanent barracks accommodation in the Ikpai Qua area of Calabar.

Commending the Chief of Air Staff, the Commander of the 207 Special Mobility Group, Group Capt. Olu Ogunjobi, said NAF headquarters had also approved the restructuring of two bedroom bungalows at Water Board Airmen’s quarters into twin two bedroom accommodation, as well as many others to complement the new status.

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Airforce acquires fighter jet, inaugurates quarters