NAF Commissions Plant To Fabricate Aircraft Parts

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commissioned its resuscitated Machine Tools Workshop at its Base in Makurdi.

The Commissioning is in line with NAF’s on-going efforts towards robust logistics support and maintenance culture to sustain platforms and equipment serviceability.

The policy forms one of the key drivers of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar’s vision. He sees the import of this key policy as geared towards increased self-sufficiency, reduction on dependence on foreign organizations for maintenance of military hardware and saving of foreign exchange for Nigeria.

A statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya said the Machine tools enable the fabrication of some aircraft parts, thereby facilitating effective and efficient repairs of aircraft airframes.

Adesanya further said; “The newly commissioned Machine Tools Workshop would be invaluable to some of the processes through which the NAF sustains its equipment and platform serviceability.

“Today’s event, which took place at 131 Engineering Group, Makurdi, is one of the numerous benefits from the strategic partnerships between the NAF and several universities in Nigeria, as facilitated by the incumbent NAF leadership.

“Other benefits derived from the collaboration include the modification of the antiskid system of the Alpha Jet aircraft, construction of test benches, receipts of two patent rights and emergence of the NAF as the best overall research institution at the 2017 Nigeria Technology and Innovation Expo, among others.”

Adesanya quoted Air Marshal Abubakar as haven said; “more than six research projects are currently ongoing in partnership with universities and research institutions in the country, which conforms to another key driver namely strategic partnership with MDAs for enhanced Research and Development.”

In his own remarks, the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Idris, expressed appreciation to the CAS for ensuring the reactivation of the machines in the Workshop, through collaboration with the University of Maiduguri, 25 years after they were abandoned. The Air Force spokesman said the machines were renovated in a record time of four weeks and at a much lower amount compared to the quotations received from different companies.

He said the commissioning ceremony was also used to induct the first set of trainees to benefit from the newly introduced Machinist Course, adding that the successful trainees would later operate the equipment in the new Workshop and similar workshops in the NAF.