By Victor Akaa.
In a demonstration of its unwavering commitment to providing Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA), the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has initiated a series of airlift missions to transport vital relief materials to flood-affected communities in Maiduguri and its environs.
Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Group Captain Kabiru Ali in a statement on Sunday said, these relief materials, generously donated by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), aim to alleviate the immense suffering caused by the devastating floods, which have disrupted daily life, destroyed properties, and displaced millions.
The airlift operations, which commenced on 14 September 2024, successfully delivered the first batch of relief items, comprising 300 bags of 50kg of rice, to NAF Base Maiduguri via the NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft.
Air Commodore UU Idris, Air Component Commander, received the materials and handed them over to Alhaji Tukur Ibrahim, Commissioner for Inter-Governmental and Special Duties, accompanied by MD Malah, Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service.
Furthermore, heavy-duty trucks provided by the NAF facilitated the transportation of the materials to the Borno State Government House for onward distribution to those in need.
In addition to the airlift mission, the NAF has launched a comprehensive medical outreach program to support flood victims, including the feeding of over 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the provision of essential medications, food, and water supplies.
This initiative underscores the NAF’s pivotal role in supporting national disaster response efforts and highlights the critical importance of military assets in humanitarian crises.
Under the directive of Air Marshal HB Abubakar (DFS), Chief of the Air Staff, these operations will persist as needed, ensuring that both relief materials and medical aid reach all affected areas.
The NAF remains committed to collaborating with other security agencies to mobilize human and material resources in support of flood victims, sustaining operations for as long as necessary to ensure effective relief delivery.
