By Lawal A. Dogara, Kaduna
Against the background of the $2.1 billion arms gate that rocked the military in the last administration, Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said, the Federal Government has sanitized the military procurement process to prevent corruption.
This was coming even as he unveiled 5 brand new Super Mushshak aircrafts to decisively deal with insecurity including the dreaded Boko Haram fighters in the Northeastern part of the country.
The Acting President, who was represented at the induction of the aircrafts and graduation ceremony of 16 student pilots held at the Nigerian Air Force Base Kaduna, by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan-Ali, described the procurement of the aircraft as timely especially with the renewed ambushes by degraded Boko Haram elements in the Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to him, “We have sanitized the procurement process of military hardware with a view to eliminating corruption and inefficiency. I make bold to say that we have achieved remarkable savings and infused quality into the system.
“This has contributed in no small way to the acquisition of these new aircrafts without any encumbrances. I have no doubt that the acquisition of the Super Mushshak aircraft would add impetus to the training efforts of 401 FTS
“On corruption in the system and Boko Haram, we have restrategised and all these attacks you see are just sign of weakness and we have been doing a lot to see that all these ambushes come to an end. We also want to train civil defence and police so they can join us where we are and move forward instead of remaining in one place”, he added.
“You will recall that Mr President promised in his inaugural address about 2 years ago to build the capacity of the armed forces to effectively address the Boko Haram insurgency as well as other national security threats.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the solo acrobatic display at 401 training command, Kaduna, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar hinted that the relocation of service Chiefs to Maiduguri has improved the intelligence gathering and final clean up of insurgents in that part of the country.
He added that, the NAF planes are flying in the air for a minimum of nine hours daily to ensure security of lives and property as well as protection of air assets to guard against reccurrence of what happened few years ago where insurgents attacked a base in Maiduguri and destroyed some air assetz.
“We have 10 training aircraft now and we are expecting additional five by December this year. That shows that the federal government is doing very well in providing both manpower and hardware for defence of our national integrity.
“We have already relocated to Maiduguri at the wake of renewed Boko Haram attack. We are on air more than before. We are on air for nine hours, non stop with cameras to see how to make the country safer.
“The Super Mushshak is not only for the training. It can be used to fight crime because it has compactment where ammunition can be kept and applied. It can also be use for intelligence surveillance, ambulance among others”, he added.
Speaking on the graduation of 16 students pilots the Air Chief said, “the training school here is where you prepare the pilots and give them all they require to perform well in the field.
