The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced airlifting relief materials donated by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to victims of recent floods in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and surrounding areas.
As part of its role in providing Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA), the NAF initiated the missions on September 14, 2024, with 300 bags of 50kg rice delivered via the NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft to NAF Base Maiduguri.
Spokesman of the Air Force, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, noted that the materials were donated by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and are aimed at alleviating the suffering caused by the floods, which have disrupted daily life, destroyed properties, and displaced millions.
The airlift missions saw the first batch of relief items, comprising 300 bags of 50kg rice, successfully delivered to NAF Base Maiduguri via the NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft.
The Air Component Commander, Air Commodore UU Idris, received the materials and handed them over to the Commissioner for Inter-Governmental and Special Duties, Alhaji Tukur Ibrahim, who was accompanied by the Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service, MD Malah. Additionally, heavy-duty trucks provided by the NAF were used to transport the materials to the Borno State Government House for onward distribution.
Earlier, the NAF had launched a medical outreach program to support flood victims, in addition to feeding over 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). This initiative includes the provision of medications, food, and water supplies to help mitigate the effects of the flood and address the urgent needs of the affected population.
The NAF’s airlift mission and medical outreach are part of a broader effort to support national disaster response initiatives and highlight the critical role of military assets in humanitarian crises. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal HB Abubakar (DFS), has directed that these operations continue as needed, ensuring that both relief materials and medical aid reach all affected areas.
He said that on the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, the NAF will persistently collaborate with other security agencies to mobilise human and material resources in support of flood victims. The operations will be sustained as long as necessary to ensure that relief effectively reaches those affected by the disaster.
