Background Information on Nigeria’s new Chief of the Air Staff

BACKGROUND

1. Air Vice Marshal HASSAN BALA ABUBAKAR was born on 11 September 1970. He hails from Shanono Local Government Area in Kano State. He enlisted into the NAF as a member of NDA RC 39 and commissioned Pilot Offr on 19 Sep 92.

COURSES ATTENDED AND QUALIFICATIONS

2. The Air Officer Commanding, Logistics Command has attended several courses. Some of these include:

• Bachelor of Science Degree from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna.
• Ab initio and Basic Flying Training Courses at the 301 Flying Training School Kaduna.
• Basic and Advance Airborne Courses at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School Jaji.
• Company Amphibious Operations Course at Nigerian Army Infantry Center and School in Calabar.
• Junior and Senior Command and Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji and
• National Defence Course at the Nasser Higher Military Academy, Cairo – Egypt.
• Master’s Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from ABU Zaria.

PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS

3. The very senior officer has held several appointments, some of which are:

• Admin Officer 16 Engineering Wing, 1 Engineering Group NAF Makurdi.
• Officer Commanding Admin Services Flight/ Group Public Relations Officer, 97 Special Operations Group NAF Port Harcourt.
• Officer Commanding Yellow Squadron – Air Force Military School Jos.
• Admin Officer Primary Flying Training Wing – 301 FTS NAF Kaduna.
• SO1 Admin 301 FTS NAF Kaduna.
• Officer Commanding ‘B’ Squadron (Do 228) – 81 Air Maritime Group NAF Benin.
• Team Leader MILOB Team Site 615 Mahagi (Ituri Brigade) MONUC.
• Aviation Planning Officer, MONUC Air Operations Kinshasa, DRC.
• Commanding Officer Base Services Wing 81 Air Maritime Group Nigerian Air force Benin.
• Operations Officer Operational Conversion Unit 88 Military Airlift group Nigerian air Force Lagos.
• Operations Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos. Commanding Officer 21 Wing 88 Military Airlift Group Lagos.
• Group Safety Officer 88 Military Airlift Group Ikeja Lagos.
• Fleet operation officer – 011Presidential Air Fleet.
• Commander 011 Presidential Air Fleet.
• Chief of Staff, Mobility Command.
• Director of Policy, HQ NAF and lastly
• Director of Operations, HQ NAF
• Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command.
• Until his appointment as the 22^nd Chief of the Air Staff, AVM HB Abubakar was the Chief of Standards and Operations, HQ NAF.

AWARDS/DECORATIONS

4. The senior officer has earned several awards and decorations, some of these include:

• Distinguished Service Star.
• Passed Staff Course (psc)
• Fellow Defence College
• Masters in International Affairs.
• Member National Institute of Management.
• Member Chartered Institute of Public Management.
• Member Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals.

MARITAL STATUS AND HOBBIES

Air Vice Marshal HB Abubakar is happily married with children and in his leisure time, the senior officer enjoys flying airplanes, reading, reflecting and keeping fit.Ba