TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the first set of Nigerian Army Pilots trained by the Nigerian Army Aviation School.

The ceremony was one of the series of focal events lined up for the on-going 2017 chief of army staff (COAS) annual conference in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

Performing the commissioning, Buhari commended the feat achieved by the army saying it is evident that the nation’s armed forces have moved to the next level.

Represented by Abayomi Olonisakin, chief of defence staff, Buhari said, “The nation appreciates the enormous sacrifices of our gallant officers and men prayed for the repose of the souls of our soldiers whom we have lost in the course of enthroning sustainable peace in the country.’’

He implored Nigerian leaders at all levels to embrace the wind of change blowing across the country.

Speaking earlier, Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff, said the commencement of the training of aviation corps for the army is in accordance with the vision of the current leadership of the army to transform and enhance its operations and efficiency of its personnel.

This vision of the Nigerian Army, he hinted, was tailored to materialise, using its own platforms.

The army pilots have undergone a two-year intensive training at the Nigerian Army Aviation School, qualifying them to fly warplanes.

The 10 pilots are E Collins; OM Banwo; K.A Ofodile; JU Ibelu; OS Arifo; EO Alpere; YA Haruna; FM Shehu; P Kajako and JO Uddin.