In a significant step towards enhancing aviation excellence, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, officially commissioned new runway lights and advanced airfield facilities at the Kaduna Military Airfield on Friday night.
This substantial upgrade is set to revolutionize pilot training, enhance safety protocols, and improve operational efficiency, marking a new era for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The commissioning of these facilities follows Air Marshal Abubakar’s inauguration of the Base Defence Coordination Centre and the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Workshop a day earlier. These initiatives underscore the NAF’s relentless dedication to meeting Nigeria’s defense and security needs through continuous improvement and modernization.
During the brief ceremony, Air Marshal Abubakar expressed his pride and satisfaction in witnessing the airfield’s transformation after several modernization attempts. Emphasizing the strategic importance of the Kaduna Military Airfield, which has been a pivotal military stronghold since the Nigerian Civil War, he highlighted its role in hosting major operational units.
“The inauguration of the new facilities will eliminate challenges experienced during night flying operations and in low-visibility conditions, which hinder sortie rates and the achievement of objectives,” said Air Marshal Abubakar. He further noted, “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.”
Air Marshal Abubakar also assured Nigerians of a marked improvement in the fight against terrorism and other criminal activities in the Northwest and beyond. He praised the dedication of NAF engineers, technicians, and support staff who worked tirelessly on the project. Additionally, he