Air chief pledges mission-ready force during visit to Kaduna base

By Zainab Uzomah

Nigeria’s Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to counter-insurgency operations and internal security during his first operational visit to units in Kaduna.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the air chief made the pledge on 18 December while visiting the Air Training Command and other co-located units, where he addressed officers and personnel at a durbar.

Air Marshal Aneke described Kaduna as a strategic hub in the history and future of the Air Force, saying the visit allowed for direct engagement with personnel and a renewed focus on shared professional values. He said training and sustainment were central to operational success, noting that the effectiveness of air operations depended largely on the quality of training and maintenance systems.

Earlier, the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Yusuf Dari, briefed the air chief on the command’s responsibilities, achievements and challenges, highlighting its role in maintaining the Air Force’s operational readiness and aligning training with emerging security demands.

The air chief said his command philosophy was aimed at building a highly motivated and professional force capable of delivering decisive air power in support of national security objectives, stressing that it should guide planning, training and decision-making at all levels.

During a tour of facilities, Air Marshal Aneke inspected units and commissioned new projects intended to improve training infrastructure and personnel welfare. He urged commanders to maintain high levels of readiness, saying persistent threats such as banditry required sustained pressure and effective leadership.

He concluded the visit by reaffirming what he described as a policy of “welfare for enhanced warfare”, assuring personnel that their well-being remained a priority as the Air Force continued efforts to safeguard lives and property across the country.