By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
The Quick Response Unit, (QRU), an air combat formation of the Nigerian Air Force is to be expanded and fortified with modern air warfare equipment to increase the capacity of the Nigerian Air Force to defend the country’s territorial space, the Chief of Air Staff, (CAS), Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar has announced.
The QRU which is based in Maikunkele area of Bosso Council of Niger state was established as a wing of the Nigerian Air Force to provide prompt response to distress calls for air combat battles and support to the other arms of the military in case of emergencies.
Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar disclosed that plans were afoot to expand the technical capacity of the unit, deploy more personnel and equipment to make the unit more combat ready to meet challenges of a growing state like Nigeria.
Air Marshall Abubakar stated this during his visit to the Governor of Niger state.
He said Quick Response Unit will soon be fortified and expanded to fully complement such current Military assignments like the “Operation Sharandaji” which was launched to flush out criminals and bandits operating in forested areas of some states in the North West region of the country including Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano and Kebbi States.
The CAS was in Minna on facts finding visit on the heels of the loss of some Air Force personnel during the ill fated weapons mop up at Kpaidna village of Bosso council of the state.
He noted that with increasing cases of challenges to security of lives and property in parts of the country, the need to further expand the capacity of the QRU was imperative.
“We are bringing in more officers and men to see how we can support state governments and to see that there is peace in our states and the entire country”.
He said; “we are here to see things for ourselves, to see the facilities on ground and assess what we have before we deploy more officers and men to the unit”.
Air Marshall Abubakar assured that the Air Force was now well equipped with it’s newly acquired equipment which will help in carrying out effective surveillance and particularly to “dislodge enemies”.
On the proposed establishment of a Repair/Maintenance Centre for Air Force equipment in Minna, Abubakar said when completed, the facility would provide platform for repairs and maintenance of Helicopters and certain categories of fighter aircrafts and planes for the country and for other West African countries.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had earlier applauded the move by the Air Force to increase its personnel in the state, stressing that the development will help to improve in securing the state from any external aggression.
Bello also pledged his administration’s preparedness to partner with the Air Force in establishing the Maintenance/Repair Centre in the state capital and directed the Commissioner for Investment to see areas of collaboration for the takeoff of the centre.
