Marking a significant milestone in the pursuit of aviation excellence, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar on the night of Friday, 14 June 2024, officially commissioned runway lights and state-of-the-art airfield facilities at the Kaduna Military Airfield. 

This major upgrade revolutionizes pilots’ training practices, enhances safety protocols, and bolsters operational efficiency, thus signaling a new era in aviation standards in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF). 

A day earlier, Air Marshal Abubakar had also  commissioned the new Base Defence Coordination Centre as well as the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Workshop among other notable projects, signifying relentless dedication, unwavering commitment, and tireless efforts by the  NAF to meet the defence and security needs of Nigeria. 

In his remarks at the brief ceremony for the commissioning of the runway lights, the CAS expressed profound pride and joy at witnessing the airfield’s transformation, despite previous attempts to modernize it. 

He highlighted the airfield’s strategic importance, stating that the Kaduna Military Airfield, located within the NAF Base Kaduna, has been a major military stronghold since the Nigerian Civil War, hosting major operational units. 

According to the CAS, “the inauguration of the new facilities will help eliminate challenges experienced during night flying operations and flying in low-visibility conditions which hinder sortie rates and achievements of objectives.” 

Speaking further,  he noted that,  “With these upgrades, the NAF will experience a significant boost in agility, enabling increased sortie rates and seamless day and night operations against adversaries. Moreover, our resilience will be enhanced, allowing us to quickly recover from adverse weather conditions and fulfill national security requirements more effectively, “he added.

The CAS also used the opportunity to assure Nigerians  of a marked difference in the fight against terrorism and other forms of criminality in the Northwest and beyond. 

He also praised the dedication of NAF engineers, technicians, and support staff who worked tirelessly on the project and acknowledged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visionary leadership, which he said has inspired transformative advancements in the NAF and national development.

Edward Gabkwet 

Air Vice Marshal 

Director of Public Relations and Information 

Nigerian Air Force