The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Logistics Command, AVM Hasan Abubakar on Saturday said that regularly engaging in sporting activities would ensure fitness of it’s personnel for combat operations.

Abubakar said this at the force’s First Quarter Route March Exercise 2022 which held at the Sam Ethan Base, Ikeja, Lagos State.

“I congratulate all of us for having successfully completed the First Quarter Route March Exercise 2022 with no casualty recorded.

“The aim of the exercise is to ensure the physical fitness as well as combat effectiveness of all NAF personnel to ensure our readiness towards performing our constitutional roles,” the AVM said.

Abubakar said that such exercise would also foster discipline, regimentation and esprit de corps which were in tandem with the key drivers of the Chief of Air Staff’s vision, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao.

“The importance of sports and physical fitness to military men cannot be overemphasized.

“As soldiers, it is important that we remain physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically fit to carryout our responsibilities as defenders of our nation’s territorial integrity.

“Mental and physical fitness are like the opposite sides of the same coin; one must be present for the other to thrive, that is why it is said that a healthy mind lives in a healthy body,” he said.

The AVM said that the NAF placed a high premium on physical fitness and has continued to invest to ensure that it is well maintained among all it’s personnel.

“This is done through several activities like the march exercise, regular weekly games, intra and inter command sporting competitions as well as providing facilities such as gyms and swimming pools in our bases,” he said.

Abubakar said that the inter-units and inter-command sporting competitions for the year would soon begin and urged personnel to make sure that logistics command come first in the competition.

“Therefore, we must create time for activities that will build our strength, vascular endurance, agility, flexibility, coordination and balance among others to ensure optimum performance.

“I assure those that would compete and win in those competitions very handsome rewards.

“I urge you all to continue to be disclined and law abiding anywhere you may find yourself as good ambassadors of the NAF,” the AVM said.