The Supervising Minister of Defence, Mr Labaran Maku, on Tuesday in Kaduna said that the country had the capacity and resources to develop its armed forces.
Maku made the assertion at the “Award Night 2013’’ for the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.
“I believe that the country has the resources to support development and research in the armed forces, so that between now and the next 15 years, we can depend more on our local ingenuity and creativity than our foreign supplies.
“No nation can sustain its security system by depending on other countries; you need your own ingenuity and creativity to run the system,’’ he said.
Maku, further stressed that from what he had seen in the armed forces in the area of research and development, it had shown that the services had the capability, saying all they needed was adequate funding.
“As supervising minister of defence, what I have seen today will inspire me to work together with the service chiefs to ensure better funding for research and development of the armed forces,’’ he said.
Maku also expressed the readiness of President Goodluck Jonathan to support the military to be the best not only in the country but in Africa with obvious committments and determination.
The Supervising minister commended the Chief of Air staff for the innovation he had brought to the Nigerian Air Force.
He urged officers and men of the armed forces to remain committed to defend democracy in the country.
Earlier, the Head of Nigeria Airforce, Air Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh said that the Air Force was blessed with personnel who were determined to lift the NAF to unprecedented heights, adding that such officers deserved to be honoured.
Meanwhile it is obvious that some officers and men, who excelled in their careers, were given awards at the occasion.
The occasion also witnessed the winging of some pilots and presentation of certificates. (NAN)
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