Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar has applauded the management of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company for its support to the military by providing technical support that has enabled the Nigerian Air Force to sustain its operations against the Boko Haram insurgents.
The Air Force revealed on Wednesday, that Innoson ‘helped to locally modify and overhaul the brake assembly of the MB-339 aircraft for adoption on the Alpha Jets’ and also ‘helped for the continued operation of the Alpha Jets, and had helped to save the day when help was not forthcoming from abroad’.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa.
In the statement, Abubakar said the contribution of Innoson deserves national recognition and award, due to the important role played by the Alpha Jet in the ongoing counter insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
“The collaboration between the NAF and IVM is in line with one of the key drivers of the CAS vision which is strategic partnership with ministries, departments and agencies for enhanced research and development.”
“Beyond the feat, the NAF is poised to exploit the possibilities of mass producing the Alpha Jet break assembly and other parts locally by partnering with IVM, as well as other credible organisations, to build own capacity for enhanced self-reliance.”
“Our partnership with IVM would not end with the Alpha jet break assembly but a leeway to forge new frontiers, through research and development, to replicate some of the spares needed by our platforms” the CAS said.
Abubakar added that the feat has not only saved the country huge foreign exchange that otherwise would have been spent abroad but also adding value to Nigerians through provision of job opportunities.
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