Air Force airlifts COVID-19 medical supplies to 14 nations

In fulfillment of government’s pledge to provide logistics support in the quest to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in West Africa, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), yesterday, began airlifting of medical supplies and other consumables procured by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) to 14 countries in the sub-region.

President Muhammadu Buhari is the ECOWAS COVID-19 Response Coordination “Champion.”

Besides Nigeria, the 13 other nations include Cote d’ Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

The rest are Cape Verde, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali and the Republic of Benin.

Kicking off the exercise yesterday in Abuja, chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, represented by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora, stated that Buhari has risen to the occasion as a true champion via exemplary leadership, solidarity, friendship and good neighbourliness to the entire area.

He pointed out that NAF has remained the backbone of the panel’s logistics operations in the country and beyond.

Mustapha commended the pilots and the entire crew of 2 NAF C-130H aircraft handling the assignment for their dedication and professionalism.

In his remarks, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the force considered the exercise as a great privilege.

Represented by the Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal James Gwani, he, therefore, pledged the commitment of his establishment to a successful operation.

Also present at the event were the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, WAHO’s Director-General, Professor Stanley Okolo and Director of Operations, NAF Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Ayoola Jolasinmi.