By Gift Samuel, The Sight News
Abuja-As the Nigerian Air Force embarked on the Annual 10Km walk/jog exercise for it’s personnel, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has said that a physically sound body is essential if the officers and men of the NAF were to be effective in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Speaking in Abuja on Saturday at the 2017 edition of the Annual walk and jog, the CAS noted that the challenges of modern times are very complex and as such requires both sound mind and body to proffer solution to them.
He further said that despite the challenges in the last few weeks, the NAF is on track in making Nigeria a more secured country, adding that substantial progress has been made and Nigeria today is more secured than before as he stressed that NAF will continue to reevaluate its operations from time to time as well as restrategize if the need arises.
According to him; “We are no doubt on track in regard to the kind of structure we want for our Air Force for better efficiency and effectiveness. We are equally on track with regard to capacity building,we are on track in terms of reactiving of airplanes and we are similarly on track in terms of providing for the welfare of our personnel.I want to urge you to continue to rededicate yourself so that every Nigerian territory and every Nigerian will be secured”.
He assured that the leadership of the Air Force will continue to address the welfare needs of the officers, adding that NAF must provide for their accommodation, medical needs, allowances and schools for their children to ensure that they are in the best frame of mind to effectively discharge their duties
Also speaking, the Special Guest of Honour, Minister of Youth and Sports Barr. Solomon Dalung encouraged every Nigerian to imbibe the sporting culture in order to stay fit for day to day life.
The Minister who was represented by the Director of Sports, Dr. Mrs. Esther Aluko, noted that the benefits of mental alertness, promotion of longevity, a sound mind and all round general well being derived from sporting activities cannot be overemphasized.
The Minister said; “My ministry is ready to do everything humanly possible to promote sporting activity in the Military with a view of discovering young talented sports men and women who will do the Nigerian Airforce and the nation proud in the near future.
While calling on other sister services to organize sporting activities that will lead to the formation of a strong team that can compete favourably with other sporting nations, he recommended that the Armed forces and paramilitary agencies organize sporting activities which will incorporate civilians in order to promote good civil relationship, improve the state of sport men and women and as well keep the youth busy and reduce crime rate.
The Nigeria Airforce Annual 10 Kilometers walk/jog exercise which lasted for one hour, 34 minutes and three seconds (01:34:03) took off from the Mogadishu Cantonment, terminated at Niger Barracks and winners of the walk and jog were given various prizes for their efforts.
