The Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (RTD) on Tuesday inaugurated an Air Mobile First Aid Shelter at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) base, Kaduna.
The project was supported by German Technical Advisory Group (GTAG) under the Nigeria-Gemany Bi-National Cooperation Agreement
The minister was represented by Chief of Administration, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Adamu .
Magashi said the project would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Armed Forces in meeting its national and regional security imperatives and disaster response.
“The instrument which provides for the collaboration of the German government in the provision of non-lethal military assistance to AFN, has two main components comprising the Equipment Aid Programme (EAP) and the Enhanced Enabling Initiative (E21).
“Through the EAP, the German government provides support in training and non-lethal equipment to the AFN,” he said.
Magashi said that NAF had articulated its requirement for Air Mobile First Aid Units to assist the Service in the fight against terrorism and insurgency as well as provision of medical services.
He stated that the construction of the shelter was achieved through the joint efforts of NAF and the German government while the entire arrays of equipment were supplied by the German government.
“The success of this project is a manifestation of the commitment of Nigeria and Germany to the actualisation of the projects in the Agreement,” said the defence minister.
The project, he added, would also bolster the non-kinetic lines-of-operation of the Armed Forces and set the stage for enduring peace and national development.
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“We shall therefore continue to work for the actualisation of these types of projects that will enhance the security and unity of our nation as well as meet our global, regional and sub-regional obligations,” Magashi said.
Earlier, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, said the project was geared towards improving the well-being of personnel.
Amoa, represented by Air Officer Commanding, Air Training Command, AVM Ayoola Jolasinmi, appreciated the German government for granting an earlier request for training of emergency medical team.
According to him, the project resonates with two of the six key drivers of his vision – “bolster morale by improving personnel welfare and pursuit of fit-for-purpose training and human capacity development”.
“The recent reunion between the NAF and GTAC is a welcome development.
“Through counterpart funding, the erected building was taken to lintel level by NAF while GTAG completed the structure through its non-lethal equipment aid programme,” he added.
Also, the Commander GTAG in Nigeria, Lt.-Col. Jens Gliemann, said the project, like many others in Nigeria, was supported by Germany in partnership with Nigerian Armed Forces with training and budget within the framework of the equipment aid programme.
Gliemann said Germany was working with selected countries in Africa including Nigeria to improve the operational capability of their armed forces in the area of logistics, maintenance and medical care.
‘In Nigeria the German government plans to invest about nine million euros from the renewed bilateral equipment aid agreement 2021-2024.
“For the medical projects at the NAF base in Kaduna, 1.5 million euros are to be invested in training, equipment and facilities,” he said.
