FG’s Strategic Support Boosting NAF’s Combat Power – Air Chief

FG’s Strategic Support Boosting NAF’s Combat Power – Air Chief

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has praised the Federal Government for its continued strategic support to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), asserting that recent investments have significantly enhanced the military’s ability to combat terrorism, banditry, and oil theft across the country.

Speaking at the Air Force War College in Makurdi while delivering a lecture titled “Military Strategic Leadership in Air Operations: My Perspective” to participants of Course 11/2025, the Air Chief said the Tinubu administration’s targeted support has translated into measurable operational successes for the Air Force.

A statement by Air Commodore, Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force in Abuja today.

“In just the past year, we have seen the delivery of nine brand-new aircraft, and more are on the way,” said Air Marshal Abubakar.

“These platforms have already enabled more precise and sustained operations in key theatres.”

He added that the NAF expects an additional 49 aircraft to be delivered in phases, a development he believes will further elevate the force’s capacity to carry out complex missions.

Highlighting the Air Force’s recent operational achievements, the CAS revealed that over the past 12 months, the NAF executed more than 4,500 flight hours across 2,304 sorties in support of counterinsurgency missions.

Anti-banditry efforts accounted for 2,600 sorties and 4,670 flight hours, while air operations against oil theft and illegal refining conducted 366 sorties, logging 1,450 hours.

“These are not just numbers,” the CAS emphasized.

“They represent real missions, real risks, and real outcomes.”

According to him, the air campaigns have resulted in the neutralization of 3,496 terrorists in the Northeast between June 2023 and May 2025. Moreover, more than 121,000 insurgents and their families have surrendered during the same period — a development Abubakar attributed to intensified aerial pressure and coordinated joint-force operations.

On the economic front, Air Marshal Abubakar drew attention to the gains of Operation DELTA SAFE, where the NAF, in collaboration with other security agencies, has used both kinetic and non-kinetic air power to dismantle oil theft networks.

He cited figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission showing a 13% increase in crude oil and condensate production in Q4 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 — a rise he linked to the success of air interdiction missions.

He concluded his lecture by urging the next generation of Air Force leaders to rise to the demands of strategic command in a dynamic security environment. “You are the future of air power in Nigeria,” he said. “Your leadership, professionalism, and resolve will define our ability to meet evolving threats and safeguard the nation.”

By PRNigeria