The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, on Tuesday said the cost of running air strikes to fight against the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East region of the country costs an average of 1.9 million litres in aviation fuel each month.
This was disclosed by the Chief of the Air Staff, CAS, Sadiq Abubakar, at the opening ceremony of the NAF Logistics Seminar held in Lagos.
The CAS while speaking at the seminar tagged: “Repositioning NAF logistics for Efficient Employment of Air Power in response to Contemporary National Security Imperatives” said the NAF has managed to continue its strikes against the insurgents despite the shortage and scarcity of aviation fuel in the country.
He said: “To support air operations in the North-East, the NAF must put an excellent plan that will ensure availability of aviation fuel in the operational area, whether the product is locally available or not.
“The service consumed an average of 1.9 million liters of aviation fuel monthly.
“The main fighter air plane we use consumes 2500 liters/hour and we fly at least two air planes at a time.
“At that consumption rate, the two consume 5000 liters every hour and we run two missions.
“So, we are talking of about 10,000 liters just for one aircraft time.
“We have so many other airplanes like the Alpha jets which consume 2400 liters/hour.
“They also fly in formation and that means about 4800 liters.
“There are other air planes that fly on daily basis.
“Our desire is to ensure no territory of Nigeria is under any threat.
“To achieve that, we must have sound logistics strategy to ensure that materials and spare parts are available when required.
“Our logisticians, therefore, must work assiduously to ensure the product is available for operation.
“In a war situation, no excuse is acceptable.
“To ensure we build capacity in logistics planning, the NAF has embarked on training and retraining both within and outside Nigeria.”
The seminar had in attendance the Minister of Defense, Muhammad Dan-Ali, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Danjuma Sheni, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Isidore Edet; Flag Officers Commanding, FOCs, Western Naval and Logistics Commands, Rear Adm. Fergusson Bobai and Beegroy Ibe-Enwo, respectively.
Also in attendance were the Air Officers Commanding, AOCs, Logistics and Tactical Commands, Air Vice Marshal Sani Ahmed and Air Marshal Muhammad Mohammed.