By Ameh Gabriel
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has called on newly graduated pilots of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to approach their flying careers as a national duty rather than a personal achievement.
Speaking during the joint graduation ceremony of Basic Transport Flying Course 5 and Ab-initio Student Pilot Course 49 at the 401 Flying Training School (FTS) in Kaduna, Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized the weight of national expectation that comes with earning pilot wings.
“Earning your flying qualification is not just a personal milestone it is a national responsibility,” the CAS told the graduating class of 35 aviators. “You now carry not just rank and wings, but the hopes and security of millions of Nigerians.”
The ceremony saw the graduation of 10 officers from the Basic Transport Flying Course and 25 from the Ab-initio Student Pilot Course.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the Air Chief reiterated that the operational strength of the Air Force depends heavily on the standard of its training programs.
“In the Nigerian Air Force, we believe that the quality of our training determines the strength of our operations,” he said. “This is why my administration is focused on modernizing our training institutions, inducting new aircraft, and adapting our doctrines to meet evolving security threats.”
He noted that the graduation marked another significant step in the ongoing transformation of the NAF into a more agile, responsive, and technologically advanced force. Commending the 401 FTS for its consistent record of excellence, he revealed that the school has trained over 700 pilots for the NAF, Nigerian Navy, and several African nations including the Republic of Benin, Cape Verde, Niger, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone.
Air Marshal Abubakar concluded by reaffirming the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to enhancing operational readiness, improving personnel welfare, and upholding its constitutional duty to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
