Insecurity, threat to Nigeria’s unity —Chief of Air Staff

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal M.D. Umar, has stated that the state of insecurity in the country constitutes a great threat to the country’s peace and unity.

Air Marshal Umar stated this in Abuja, at the weekend, during the maiden Chief of Air Staff awards night held at Air Force Base, as part of the force efforts aimed at rewarding some of its officers who had distinguished  themselves in the course of their duties in the last one year.

In his address on the occasion, he said that “Nigeria is passing through an extra-ordinary time when some events that are threatening to shake the foundation laid by the founding fathers of this great nation are happening.”

Commending the awardees, he said “all awardees have demonstrated by their actions that they do not want the labour of our heroes to be in vain. As the Chief of Air Staff (CAF), I am happy to note that under my watch, men and women have exhibited courage in the face of terror, hope where they saw despair and persistence in adversity.”

He added that “through their efforts and others who emulate their examples, I have no doubt that we are on our way to build the NAF  that we will all be proud of, the brand of fighting force our nation deserves to have.”

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Defence, Dr Bello Haliru Mohammed, tasked the awardees to justify the honour bestowed on them by the Air Force, just as he reminded those who were yet to be honoured to work hard to ensure they make the next edition of the awards.