The United States Mission said a flight safety team from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAF) travelled to Abuja on May 16, 2022, to conduct a five-day military exchange programme to enhance the Nigerian Air Force’s operational safety.
In a statement available to newsmen on Thursday the mission said: “The safety team visited the NAF Institute of Safety (NAFIS) in Ipetu-Ijesa, which was the first-ever U.S. Air Force visit there.
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“NAFIS is the formal school for Nigerian Air Force officers that run unit safety programmes and is responsible for maintaining a culture of safety throughout the service.
“The United States has collaborated with the Nigerian Air Force, through USAFE-AFAF, on several safety related programs in the past.
“In August 2021, a USAFE-AFAF safety team visited the 307 Executive Airlift Group to assess the safety program and make recommendations.
“Shortly after, USAFE-AFAF taught 24 Nigerian Air Force officers a two-week formal safety course. In return, USAFE-AFAF sent two participants of the safety course to the United States to attend a U.S. Air Force International Safety Programme Officer’s Course at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.
“The United States is dedicated to supporting the Nigerian Air Force in its efforts to improve its operational safety. This priority was reiterated by U.S. Mission Nigeria at this year’s ‘Country Coordination Meeting’ between the U.S. and Nigerian military”
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, commended the Nigerian Air Force on their continued efforts saying, “Safety is a universal concern for all aviators, regardless of nationality or crew position, and the U.S. is proud to collaborate with the Nigerian Air Force to help promote a culture of safety.”
It will be recalled some jets of the Nigerian Air Force had crashed in recent times, resulting in killing of the officers of the security agency.