Abuja — Newly confirmed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has pledged to lead a versatile, disciplined, and intelligent Nigerian Air Force (NAF) capable of keeping insurgents “running without time to think or plan.”
Speaking during his confirmation by the Senate on 29 October 2025, AVM Aneke said his leadership would focus on training, technology, safety, and strategic innovation, noting that true military power lies in intellect and adaptability rather than brute force.
“I use the word lethal in a professional sense,” he said. “Because a man running from you will not have the time to plan to hurt you.”
The Senate’s confirmation of Aneke followed his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which empowers the President to appoint Service Chiefs subject to legislative approval.
Lawmakers commended the new Air Chief for his operational expertise and strategic vision, highlighting his record as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, where he significantly enhanced the Air Force’s strategic airlift capability, strengthened joint operations, and improved responsiveness in complex security environments.
Aneke also earned praise for his contributions to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, which have strengthened Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and internal security frameworks.
His confirmation, observers say, represents both a constitutional affirmation of civilian oversight in the armed forces and a strategic endorsement of the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing modernisation drive.
Aneke, a graduate of the United States Air War College, Montgomery, Alabama, holds advanced degrees in Strategic Studies, International Affairs and Diplomacy, and Political Economy and Development Studies.
With over 4,300 flight hours across multiple aircraft types, the new Air Chief is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished aviators and strategic thinkers.
His appointment is expected to accelerate the Air Force’s transformation agenda, focusing on technological innovation, personnel development, and operational precision in addressing the nation’s evolving security challenges.
, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has pledged to lead a versatile, disciplined, and intelligent Nigerian Air Force (NAF) capable of keeping insurgents “running without time to think or plan.”){kind=link}