Abuja:The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has achieved significant milestones, recording over 6,100 flying hours and more than 2,900 sorties between November 2025 and September 2026 under the leadership of Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, stated that these achievements encompass various operational, personnel, training, infrastructure, and modernization efforts as Air Marshal Aneke approaches his first anniversary in office on October 30.
The extensive missions required close to 10 million litres of Jet A-1 fuel and included precision air strikes, armed reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support aimed at degrading hostile elements and enhancing the effectiveness of surface forces. These operations were driven by actionable intelligence and clearly defined objectives to ensure each sortie fulfilled a specific operational purpose.
Personnel welfare has been a central focus of CAS Aneke’s leadership, characterized by the philosophy ‘Welfare for Enhanced Warfare.’ This has led to improvements in allowances, medical support, accommodation, and infrastructure. Additionally, welfare airlift services for personnel in frontline operational theatres have been reactivated.
Promotions under Aneke’s leadership have seen 57 senior officers advance to Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodore, with 1,534 senior non-commissioned officers and 1,936 non-commissioned officers moving to higher ranks. Over 550 personnel have participated in international training, with more than 6,000 receiving local training to bolster competencies and leadership skills.
The NAF expanded its operational flexibility by receiving five additional helicopters in September, including three AW-109 Trekker Type B and two H125 helicopters. Plans are underway to acquire 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters and other aircraft and unmanned aerial systems to enhance airlift, combat, training, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
Maintenance efforts include the reactivation and upgrade of six L-39ZA aircraft in Slovakia and Nigeria, as well as Periodic Depot Maintenance of a C-130 aircraft in Portugal. Safety and accountability are key components of the transformation agenda, with the establishment of an Operational and Safety Audit Committee and a strengthened Safety Management System.
The NAF is also advancing Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response and is planning to establish an Open-Source Intelligence Centre to improve situational awareness. Furthermore, 284 infrastructure projects have been approved, with 145 completed and 139 ongoing, covering accommodation, academic, medical, administrative, and operational facilities.
Local production initiatives by the NAF include the Aircraft Release Device 863 impulse release cartridges, a 250-kilogram bomb-loading trolley, and the development and ground testing of locally produced 57-millimetre rockets. The NAF remains committed to transforming investments in people, platforms, training, technology, and infrastructure into tangible operational results.