The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has stated that bad weather is adversely affecting its operations against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East.
The Air Component Commander of “Operation Lafiya Dole,” Air Commodore Tajudeen Oladele, stated this in Yola, on Thursday, while briefing journalists on the activities of the command from April to June.
“The major challenge affecting air operations at this period is adverse weather.
“Thunderstorm and rainfall impacted negatively on our operations.
“This is however to be expected during the period under review.
“There were days that flights have to be delayed or cancelled because of weather,” he said.
Despite the challenge, he said significant operations were conducted during the period under review.
The commander said a total of 821 sorties were conducted within 1,256 hours and nine minutes of flight which consumed over two million litres of Jet A 1 and MOGAS worth N334 million.
He said there were times attacks had to be suspended in order not to endanger the lives of innocent civilians.
He reiterated the component’s readiness to sustain its onslaught against Boko Haram and support the operations of ground troops.
NAN reports that the commander promised that the component would also sustain its humanitarian support in the areas of food supply and healthcare services to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the region.
“Our sincere gratitude goes to the Chief of Air Staff for his support. On our part we are always willing and ready to carry out any additional task,” Oladele said.