Air Force Chief in Czech Republic, Seeks Strategic Partnership

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS),Hasan Abubakar, weekend, saidstrengthening strategic partnership with other air forces, provided the pathway to an enduring and comprehensive solution towards addressing the challenges encountered in pilot trainings.

This came as air strikes hit seven illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region.

Air Marshal Abubakar stated this just as he noted that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was poised to strengthen its strategic partnership with the Air Force of the Czech Republic in the areas of technological transfer, capacity building as well as research and development.

The partnership, according to him, would enhance the proficiency of NAF maintenance crew to be able to undertake some major maintenance works in-country, thereby reducing aircraft downtime, while improving air operations.

A statement by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, stated that the air force chief spoke when he met with the Commander of Czech Air Force, Major General Petr Cepelka, on the sideline of the Future Air Force 2023 Conference currently ongoing in Praque, Czech Republic.
Speaking further, Abubakar sought the cooperation and collaboration of the Czech Air Force in the areas of counterterrorism, counterinsurgency and pilot training.

While acknowledging the support the NAF has received from the Czech Air Force since the initial purchase of the L-39 aircraft in 1986, the CAS disclosed that the NAF had continued to maintain an active relationship with the Czech Air Force.

He recalled that the NAF had in the past collaborated with the Czech Air Force on pilot trainings on L-39Z aircraft simulator, altitude chamber and spatial disorientation training for several NAF pilots across different platforms, which had positively impacted on NAF’s fighting capabilities.

Responding, Cepelka, thanked Air Marshal Abubakar for sustaining the long history of mutual relationship that has existed between the NAF and the Czech Air Force, and assured him of the Czech Air Force support in the areas of aircraft acquisition, maintenance, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operations and training of NAF special forces.

Meanwhile, air strikes conducted  by the Nigerian Air Force hit seven illegal refining sites in the Niger Delta region.

A statement issued by NAF Headquarters in Abuja  said the Air Component of Operation Delta Safe ramped up efforts at denying oil thieves and operators of illegal oil refining sites the opportunity to burst pipelines, operate illegal oil refining sites while damaging the environment.

It said air strikes conducted on Cawthorne Channel and Bille, both located in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, proved successful as seven illegal refining sites were identified and destroyed.

‘In Cawthorne Channel, 4 active illegal refining sites with dug out reservoirs and surface storage tanks suspected to be containing illegal refined products were sighted on 15 September 2023. “Subsequently, the sites were destroyed.  Similar air strikes were also conducted at Bille on 16 September 2023 and in the early hours of 17 September 2023. There, three illegal oil refining sites with storage tanks and reservoirs were destroyed. In one of the sites, a cotonou boat suspected to be siphoning crude oil from a flow station was engaged in several passes and destroyed”, it said.

The statement noted that in the last two months, Cawthorne Channel and Bille  accounted for the majority of oil theft and illegal oil refining activities in Rivers State. “Within this period, over 30 illegal oil refining sites in these two locations have been destroyed by the Land, Maritime and Air Components of Operation Delta Safe.

“These efforts will be sustained in these locations and others until oil thieves and their accomplices desist from their illegal activities,” it said.