Ex-CDS seeks support for govt in tackling militancy, cattle rustling

A former Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), retired Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin has urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government in tackling Niger Delta problems and cattle rustling in the northern part of the country.

Petinrin said it had become imperative for Nigerians to join in providing long-term solutions to criminal activities in the country.He said: “the time has come to collectively fight the common enemy, which is insecurity.”

Petinrin spoke as guest of honour yesterday at the commissioning of some projects at the Ground Training Centre (GTC), Nigerian Air Force base, Kaduna.

He commended the NAF, stressing that it is on course to becoming the Africa’s leading air force with standard training facilities, standard airmen and airwomen and improved welfare packages for its personnel.

According to the former CDS, “while the challenges facing the NAF are enormous, the main challenge has been trying to strike the right balance between personnel welfare, capacity building, equipment sustenance, result-oriented training and infrastructure development.”

Petinrin said: “With what I am witnessing today, I have no doubt that the NAF still remains the torchbearer amongst the services. I, accordingly applaud your courage and resounding successes brought about by the renewed vigour at ensuring peace and stability in the various theatres of operations across the country especially the insurgency in the North-east and criminality in the other parts of the country.”

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadeeq Baba Abubakar told the gathering that NAF had been at the forefront of the fight against insecurity in the country.

The air chief added that the available resources at this recession period had been judiciously utilised to provide the needed training and welfare for the NAF personnel to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s mandate of a safe and peaceful Nigeria.