The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has reiterated his commitment to the well-being of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel, stating that ensuring their health ” is not just a duty but a fundamental pillar of his vision for the Service”.
This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja by the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Kabiru Ali
According to the statement, the CAS made the assertion while delivering his opening remarks during the NAF Medical Conference 2025, marking the first of such gathering in 4 years.
It stated that the CAS emphasised that a healthy force ” is a capable force, stressing that medical preparedness was s a critical enabler of operational effectiveness.”
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He noted that airmen and women operate in high-risk environments that demand peak physical and mental readiness, making healthcare a force multiplier rather than just a support function.
According to the statement, “Under his leadership, deliberate steps have been taken to strengthen NAF’s medical capabilities. These include specialised training for medical personnel in aviation medicine across the United States, United Kingdom, Pakistan, and India, as well as residency programmes in key medical fields.”
It added that the CAS also highlighted the revitalisation of the 061 Aeromedical Centre and ongoing efforts to establish a trauma centre at the 465 NAF Hospital in Kano, which would provide critical care for personnel engaged in operations.
The statement further added that Air Marshal Abubakar expressed profound gratitude to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his unrelenting support for the service over the past few years.
In his welcome address, the Chief of Medical Services (CMS), Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ekpe, expressed profound gratitude to the CAS for his unwavering support to the Medical Services Branch.
He noted that under the current leadership, the NAF Medical Branch had achieved remarkable milestones.
He pointed out that the direct intervention of CAS had resulted in the Nigerian School of Medical Science and Aviation Medicine Kaduna securing 4 accreditations for the training of pharmacy technicians, medical laboratory technicians, medical imaging technicians and community health extension workers in the past one year”.
He added that the CAS also commissioned a new hospital in Abuja, approved the procurement of equipment needed for the reactivation of 061 Aeromedical Centre and approved the training of several NAF doctors and nurses in aviation medicine.
According to the CMS “these achievements are a testament to the CAS commitment to enhance medical services in the NAF.”
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