By Emmanuel Obisue
Air Marshal Elson Moyo, Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe, AFZ, has expressed his country’s desire to get technical assistance from the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, in the areas of research and development, unmanned aerial vehicle technology, as well as operation and maintenance of the F7 and Mi-35 aircraft.
This was disclosed by the Air Chief in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the NAF Headquarters. The identified areas for collaboration, according to Air Marshal Moyo, are of common and peculiar aviation interests to Zimbabwe and Nigeria, whose air forces operate some similar aircraft.
The Zimbabwe Air Chief noted that the NAF within a short time, has recorded remarkable feats in its transformation effort to develop indigenous capacity. This, he said, provides a motivation for the AFZ to look inward as part of efforts to address the technical challenges arising from sanctions imposed on his country, which has limited the AFZ ability to acquire basic aircraft parts and other technical aids necessary for operational efficiency.
Air Marshal Moyo also commended the NAF for its support to the AFZ in the past, acknowledging the high quality training given to the first batch of Zimbabwe pilots trained in the 1980s by the NAF, which he said informs the decision by AFZ to seek for improved synergy and collaboration with the NAF, with respect to capacity development.
Responding, Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, stated that the NAF is ready to forge mutually benefitting partnership with the AFZ.
The CAS stated that the NAF is currently in partnership with many countries, including African countries, and is willing to partner with others who will seek collaboration with the Service.
He noted that improved synergy among African countries is the solution to many of the challenges, including insecurity facing the continent.
Air Mshl Amao further stated that collaboration among in the areas of training, technical assistance and technology transfer will boost the capacity of African countries to be self-reliant and dependent in driving progress and development on the continent.
A statement made available by Air Commodore Ayodele Famuyiwa, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, added that the Zimbabwean Air Chief is on a week-long visit to Nigeria, during which he will be visiting some NAF units, including the North East.
