The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, announced that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is set to receive 50 brand-new aircraft between December 2024 and 2026.
He revealed this at the second biannual meeting with Branch Chiefs and Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) held in Abuja on Thursday.
Air Marshal Abubakar highlighted the progress NAF has made, including the induction of 12 aircraft into its fleet over the past year force.
He emphasised that these are “exciting times” for NAF, calling for innovative thinking, resilience, and unwavering dedication from its personnel.
During the meeting, he stated, “A few months ago, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Nigerian Air Force, which ushered us into a golden era of transformation and evolution.
“Over the past year, we have successfully inducted 12 aircraft into our inventory, and God willing, we shall take delivery of 50 brand new aircraft between December this year and 2026. This is a remarkable achievement that we have not witnessed in a very long time.”
Air Marshal Abubakar praised the leadership and efforts of NAF personnel in ensuring the success of air operations, especially in counterinsurgency efforts in the North-West and anti-oil theft operations in the South-South regions.
He noted that these achievements were driven by the “transformational leadership” of Branch Chiefs and AOCs, as well as the “relentless efforts” of officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force.
The CAS also mentioned that significant steps have been taken towards strengthening the NAF, including the creation of two new staff branches: the Civil-Military Relations Branch and the NAF Transformation and Innovation Branch.
Looking ahead, Air Marshal Abubakar stressed the importance of the meeting in assessing the force’s progress, addressing shortcomings, and refining strategies.
He concluded by encouraging NAF personnel to continue upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and loyalty in achieving national security goals.
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