Aleke Aleke in Abuja
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday said the service is undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of fire safety equipment to ensure seamless and secure air operations across all units. The NAF also revealed that approximately 1,500 NAF personnel have been trained in various safety-related disciplines, including fire safety and prevention, in the first quarter of 2025, underscoring their commitment to building a safety-conscious force.
Speaking at the handing over of eight refurbished and upgraded Nigerian Air Force fire trucks, which are part of a broader initiative to revamp a total of 19 vehicles, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said the ceremony is not merely a symbolic gesture, but a visible demonstration of their unrelenting commitment to operational readiness, safety, and enhanced emergency response capability.
According to him, “It is indeed a testament to the fulfilment of my command philosophy to transform the NAF into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the airpower demands of national security in all operational environments. The overarching objective of my command philosophy is to reposition the Nigerian Air Force to effectively fulfil its constitutional mandate of defending the territorial integrity of our nation through the air. In pursuit of this imperative, my administration has placed air operations at the heart of our strategic focus, with particular emphasis on fleet expansion, combat readiness, and operational safety. As an integral component of this thrust, fire safety is receiving renewed and focused attention.
“In addition, we are in the process of establishing a centralized Fire Safety Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, to be integrated into our well-established Safety Management System (SMS). This framework is designed to enhance our capacity to track compliance, identify emerging risks, and support data-driven decision-making at both command and headquarters levels.”
The CAS expressed confidence that the implementation of these reforms will lead to a significant reduction in fire incidents across Nigerian Air Force bases nationwide, thereby reinforcing the safety and effectiveness of its operations.
Noting that the refurbished fire tenders they received yesterday complement their efforts in providing firefighters with dependable and capable equipment, Abubakar emphasised that these trucks were not merely refurbished cosmetically but were comprehensively upgraded. He stated that some of the vehicles now have components of even higher capacity than when they were originally acquired.
He stressed that this intervention will not only extend their service life but also significantly enhance their capacity for swift and effective emergency response.
He assured that the Nigerian Air Force will continue to invest in capacity building, innovation, and infrastructure that enhance its combat readiness, adding that the NAF under his leadership will keep striving to build a force that is not only air-minded but safety-focused, agile, and resilient. The fire equipment was refurbished by Messrs Afrodezt Global Services Limited.
