ABUJA – The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has said Nigeria’s increasingly complex security challenges can only be effectively addressed through intelligence-led operations, joint force integration and the decisive application of air power.
The Air Chief made the assertion while delivering a lecture titled “Air Power and National Security: The Nigerian Air Force in Perspective” to participants of National Defence College (NDC) Course 34 at the National Defence College, Abuja, on Friday.
The lecture was attended by senior officers of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and the Nigeria Police Force, as well as officials from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Also present were 20 international participants from allied countries.
Addressing the gathering, Air Marshal Aneke said the nation’s security environment has become increasingly dynamic, requiring integrated military operations and a whole-of-government approach to effectively counter emerging threats.
He noted that terrorism, banditry, separatist agitations, transnational organised crime and other non-state actors have continued to exploit modern technology, difficult terrain and civilian populations to evade security forces and undermine national stability.
According to him, the evolving nature of these threats demands stronger collaboration among security institutions and the integration of intelligence gathered from air, land, maritime, cyber and human sources to enable timely and decisive military operations.
“Today’s security environment has evolved far beyond conventional warfare. Responding effectively requires deeply integrated inter-agency structures capable of fusing intelligence into a unified operational picture that supports rapid decision-making and operational success,” he said.
The Chief of the Air Staff described air power as a strategic enabler of national security, noting that it provides the speed, reach, precision and flexibility required for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, rapid troop deployment, border protection and precision strikes while minimising civilian casualties.
He stressed that no single security agency possesses the capacity to address the country’s multifaceted security challenges alone.
“No single Service can secure the nation alone. Decisive air power delivers its greatest effect in synergy with surface forces,” the Air Chief said, adding that intelligence sharing, joint planning and synchronised operations remain essential to sustained military success.
Air Marshal Aneke also identified cyber threats, the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems, information warfare, piracy, arms trafficking and other transnational crimes as emerging security concerns requiring urgent attention.
He warned that criminal and hostile groups are increasingly exploiting cyberspace and social media platforms to spread misinformation, deepen societal divisions and erode public confidence in state institutions.
According to him, strengthening cyber resilience and strategic communication has become an indispensable component of Nigeria’s national security architecture.
Reflecting on the Nigerian Air Force’s six decades of operations, the Air Chief said the Service has continued to evolve through operational experience gained in defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, participating in regional peace support missions and responding to internal security challenges.
He attributed the NAF’s growing operational effectiveness to sustained investment in indigenous capacity development, innovation, logistics resilience and force modernisation.
Air Marshal Aneke reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to expanding its capabilities through indigenous innovation, advanced intelligence systems, emerging technologies and strategic partnerships to sustain decisive air power in support of national security.
He further observed that national security extends beyond protecting the country’s territorial integrity to safeguarding democratic institutions, securing critical national infrastructure, promoting economic prosperity and ensuring the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.
The Air Chief urged participants of the National Defence College, many of whom are expected to assume strategic leadership positions in the future, to champion jointness, innovation and inter-agency collaboration as critical pillars for addressing Nigeria’s evolving security landscape.
The lecture, he noted, reflects the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to promoting strategic thought leadership, strengthening joint military cooperation and leveraging air power as a force multiplier in advancing Nigeria’s national security, regional stability and international peace support efforts.
