NAF Boosts Troop Readiness with Fourth Quarter Route March, Pays Tribute to Fallen Heroes
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has conducted its Fourth Quarter 2024 Route March on October 26, 2024, engaging personnel across all formations nationwide. The exercise underscores the NAF’s commitment to bolstering the fitness, unity, and operational readiness of its troops amid the nation’s evolving security landscape.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, was the Guest of Honour at the Abuja route march.
In his address, Air Marshal Abubakar emphasised the vital role of physical and mental preparedness in meeting the nation’s dynamic security challenges.
He highlighted the importance of “Deliberate Training and Mission-Oriented Force Development”—a core aspect of his Command Philosophy aimed at cultivating optimal operational effectiveness in the NAF.
“Our commitment to ongoing training speaks to our strategic intent in ensuring that our personnel remain agile, resilient, and ready to adapt to any mission demands,” Air Marshal Abubakar remarked.
In line with this commitment, the CAS announced plans to upgrade sporting facilities, including a new state-of-the-art gym at the NAF Special Operations Command and improvements to existing gyms across units. Weekly sports activities, he noted, would foster fitness and camaraderie, and upcoming youth competitions at NAF bases would nurture talent and engagement among young people.
The event concluded with an atmosphere of solemn reverence, as the CAS led a tribute for five NAF personnel who recently lost their lives in a tragic accident on their way to represent Nigeria at the African Military Games in Abuja. Attendees observed a minute of silence in their honor, highlighting the sacrifices made by NAF personnel in service to the nation. Air Marshal Abubakar assured families of the fallen that the NAF would forever uphold the legacy and memory of their loved ones.
The day’s activities also celebrated the recent success of the NAF male volleyball team, which topped the National Division 1 Volleyball League and earned a promotion to the Premier League—a testament to the NAF’s holistic approach to fostering excellence in all areas.
The exercise demonstrated NAF’s unwavering resolve to equip its personnel with both the physical endurance and mental fortitude essential for securing Nigeria’s peace and stability.