The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd), on Thursday inaugurated new residential quarters for personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Abuja.
The quarters inaugurated were a block of 6×3 (6 flats of three bedrooms), for married officers, 2 blocks of 10×1 for officers on transit, and a block of 20 x 1 for Senior Non-Commissioned Officers accommodation.
While inaugurating the officers quarters, Magashi said that accommodation was part of the fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge to ensure personnel and their families were well taken care of.
“My ministry will consolidate on this laudable gesture by supporting the Nigerian Air Force in carrying out its operations especially in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
“The ministry will also do its best in supporting the Air Force in ensuring that all welfare challenges are given the right priority and speedily addressed.
“I urge you to ensure that these apartments are well maintained and kept in the best order,” he said.
The minister also appreciated the efforts of officers and men of the Ministry of Defence, who worked tirelessly to ensure the speedy completion of the projects.
“The design and execution was completed in record time, while the quality and finishing of the blocks are of good taste and craftsmanship.”
He equally congratulated Buhari for his benevolence and also congratulated Abubakar on the laudable achievements of the NAF especially in the North East.
“May I use this medium to assure Nigerians that the fight against insurgency in the North East will soon become history, as normalcy has since been returned to almost all parts of the North East and the peace and tranquility hitherto enjoyed restored,” he said.
Speaking to newsmen after the inauguration, Abubakar expressed happiness over the residential quarters, adding that the airmen and air women were equally excited as well.
“This is clearly sending the right signal that the system is interested in the personnel and their families,” he said.
He noted that whatever achievement made by the NAF was made possible due to the right environment given to the service by the Federal Government.
One of the building was named after late Sqn.Ldr. N. Abdallah, a NAF pilot who died in 1990.
