NAF Celebrates 10,500-Hour Flight Record, Procures 15 New Fighter Jets, Launches Health Bank
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has logged over 10,500 flying hours and conducted 6,000 sorties across major internal security theatres in the past year, as it marks its 61st anniversary.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, disclosed this in Abuja during a media parley to commemorate the milestone, outlining key gains in air operations, fleet expansion, personnel welfare, and flight safety.
He said the operations—covering the North East, North West, and South-South—led to the neutralization of terrorist leaders, disruption of logistics supply lines, and improved protection of oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
“Terminal flow through pipelines reported over 90 percent success at some point. Oil production rose from 1.5 million to 1.8 million barrels per day during this period,” Abubakar said.
He noted that the Force has received 15 new aircraft in the past year, including DA-62 ISR platforms, King Air 360s, and T-129 ATAK helicopters, with 49 additional aircraft—such as the M-346 fighter jets and AH-1Z Viper helicopters—expected within 12 to 18 months under a fleet modernization programme.
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On flight safety, the Air Chief announced that the NAF has recorded 18 consecutive months without a fatal air crash—the longest streak in recent years.
“Our focus has been on proactive awareness and safety education. Every accident is the result of a preventable chain of events,” he said.
He attributed the feat to reforms such as the implementation of a formal Safety Management System (SMS), simplified safety manuals, and mandatory safety modules integrated into training curricula across NAF institutions.
As part of welfare improvements, Abubakar also unveiled the Nigerian Air Force Health Bank—a financial scheme aimed at providing healthcare-focused loans and savings services to personnel and their families.
“You can have the most sophisticated weapons systems, but without motivated personnel, operational success remains elusive,” he said.
He further announced that Nigeria will again host the Association of African Air Chiefs Conference—a continental platform for intelligence sharing and joint security collaboration.
Anniversary activities include aerial displays, exhibitions of indigenous innovations, medical outreach campaigns, and civil-military engagement programmes across NAF bases nationwide.
By PRNigeria
