By Tola Gbadamosi

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has charged newly graduated Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots to see their flying credentials as a call to national duty rather than a personal accomplishment.

Abubakar gave the charge during the joint graduation ceremony of Basic Transport Flying Course 5 and Ab-initio Student Pilot Course 49, held on May 2, 2025, at the 401 Flying Training School (FTS), Kaduna.

The message was contained in a statement made available to Weekend Hope by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.

Addressing the 35 new pilots, comprising 10 graduates of the Basic Transport Course and 25 Ab-initio Student Pilots, the CAS underscored the weighty responsibility associated with their new roles.

According to him, the acquisition of flying qualifications marks the beginning of a lifetime commitment to the service of the country.

“Earning your flying qualification is not just a personal achievement; it is a national responsibility,” he said.

“You carry not just rank and wings, but the hopes of millions of Nigerians who depend on us for safety and security.”

Abubakar reiterated the importance of maintaining high standards in training, stressing that such standards directly influence the effectiveness of the Force’s operations.

“In the Nigerian Air Force, we say that the quality of our training determines the strength of our operations,” he said.

“This is why, under my leadership, we are upgrading training institutions, inducting more aircraft, and evolving our doctrines to meet the demands of modern warfare.”

He noted that the graduation ceremony was a key milestone in the ongoing transformation of the NAF into a more agile, resilient, and technology-driven force.

The Air Chief commended the 401 FTS for its continuous contribution to military aviation, disclosing that the institution has trained over 700 pilots for the NAF, the Nigerian Navy, and sister African nations including Benin Republic, Cape Verde, Niger, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone.

Abubakar reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to professional development, personnel welfare, and the fulfilment of its constitutional duty to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity while supporting national development.