By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has appealed for the technical assistance of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), to facilitate the establishment of its Air Wing, considering NAF’s expertise in airpower.

This is even as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has voluntarily offered to airlift Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), contingent to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) in Mali once the request is made.

The Chief of Staff (CoS), Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), Major General Prince Charles Johnson (III), made this appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), at Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF), Abuja over the weekend.

Major General Charles noted that presently, the country’s strategic military objective was to establish an Air Wing or Air Reconnaissance Unit for the AFL as prescribed by Liberian’s National Defence Act which is yet to be actualized.

He said that Nigeria’s military assistance to Liberia was numerous and cannot be over emphasized especially in the training of her pilots.

Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet in a statement noted that the Chief of Staff of Liberian Armed Forces also requested NAF to continue to assist the country in providing training slots for pilot and non-pilot courses with a view to tapping from Nigeria’s vast experience in defence and security.

The Liberian Military Chief said that he was in Nigeria to further strengthen the bilateral ties between the AFL and Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and to appreciate the AFN for its support to Liberia over the years especially during the civil war.

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While appreciating the ‘big brother’ role of the AFN as the regional superpower, the CoS added that the relative peace and stability being enjoyed by his country as well as her achievements were as a result of enormous support from Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao expressed the willingness of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to assist the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) in developing its airpower capability.

Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Charles Ohwo, the CAS said the NAF would provide the necessary technical and engineering support towards ensuring the activation of Air Wing for the AFL.

While reassuring the CoS of NAF continued support to provide recurrency training for the only two existing AFL pilots who were trained in Nigeria, Air Marshal Amao stated that the NAF would further assist in training pilots of AFL to ensure operationalization of its Air Wing.

“Whenever you have pilots for further training, be rest assured that our training schools are open for them to become full-fledged pilots under the Nigerian Air Force pilots training programme”.

He advised the AFL to take advantage of NAF’s technical and engineering schools for non-pilot courses such as the Air Traffic Control and ground support crew.