NAF Records 2,900 Security Missions, Uses Nearly 10 Million Litres of Fuel

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded more than 2,900 operational sorties and over 6,100 flying hours in support of national security operations between November 2025 and September 2026, consuming nearly 10 million litres of Jet A-1 aviation fuel.

The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed the figures in a statement on Sunday ahead of the first anniversary of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, on October 30.

Ejodame said the operations involved precision air strikes, armed reconnaissance, surveillance and close air support aimed at weakening hostile groups, restricting their movements and improving the effectiveness of ground forces.

He explained that missions were planned using actionable intelligence, clearly defined objectives and assessments of operational outcomes to ensure that each sortie contributed to national security efforts.

The spokesman said the operational activities formed part of Aneke’s transformation agenda, which prioritised operational effectiveness, personnel welfare, technological advancement and institutional accountability.

On personnel welfare, he said the Air Chief had adopted the principle of “Welfare for Enhanced Warfare”, recognising that adequately supported and motivated personnel were essential to sustained operational performance.

He added that the service had pursued improvements in allowances, medical support, accommodation and other facilities, while reactivating welfare airlift services for personnel deployed in frontline operational theatres.

Ejodame disclosed that 57 senior officers had been promoted to the ranks of Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodore. Another 1,534 senior non-commissioned officers and 1,936 non-commissioned officers had also advanced to higher ranks.

He said more than 550 personnel participated in international training and professional engagements, while over 6,000 received local training to improve their technical expertise, specialised skills and leadership capacity.

On fleet modernisation, the spokesman said the NAF received five helicopters in September, comprising three AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters and two H125 helicopters.

He added that the service was pursuing the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters and other aircraft and unmanned aerial systems to strengthen its combat, airlift, training, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Six L-39ZA aircraft were also undergoing reactivation and upgrades in Slovakia and Nigeria, while periodic depot maintenance on a C-130 aircraft was continuing in Portugal.

Regarding infrastructure, Ejodame said the service had approved 284 projects, of which 145 had been completed and 139 remained ongoing. The projects cover residential accommodation, academic and medical facilities, operational infrastructure, roads, electricity, water supply and recreational facilities.

He further highlighted measures to improve aviation safety and accountability, including the establishment of an Operational and Safety Audit Committee and enhancements to the service’s Safety Management System.

The NAF was also developing procedures for assessing and responding to civilian harm, alongside plans to establish an Open-Source Intelligence Centre to improve situational awareness and operational planning.

On indigenous capacity, Ejodame said the service had pursued local production initiatives involving aircraft release cartridges, a 250-kilogramme bomb-loading trolley and the development and ground testing of locally produced 57-millimetre rockets.

He added that healthcare, educational and other community-focused projects had continued to strengthen civil-military relations and public confidence.

The spokesman said the service remained committed to translating investments in personnel, aircraft, training, technology and infrastructure into improved operational outcomes through joint operations, strategic partnerships, enhanced maintenance and professional development.