The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on 6 February 2026, visited Nigerian Air Force Base Enugu, where he held a highly interactive durbar with officers, airmen and airwomen of Headquarters Ground Training Command and collocated units, reinforcing the Nigerian Air Force’s operational focus in ongoing counter-insurgency efforts nationwide.
The engagement provided a direct platform for dialogue between leadership and personnel, strengthening unity of purpose and reaffirming commitment to mission success. Reflecting on his first 100 days in office, the CAS outlined deliberate reforms aimed at enhancing operational effectiveness, strengthening logistics and maintenance capacity, and sustaining a professional, mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive airpower in support of national security objectives.
Air Marshal Aneke emphasised that improvements in operational tempo across theatres are being driven by better aircraft serviceability, tighter logistics coordination and renewed focus on maintenance culture. He highlighted forthcoming induction of advanced combat platforms that will significantly boost precision strike capability and reinforce Nigeria’s deterrence posture.
Commending the critical training and readiness role played by HQ GTC and its collocated units, he noted that their professionalism directly feeds frontline operations against insurgency, banditry and other threats. He charged personnel to maintain pressure on adversaries, sustain vigilance and continuously dominate the battlespace from the air, stressing that the evolving security environment demands discipline, innovation and relentless operational focus.
Central to the CAS’ message was a firm assurance that personnel welfare remains inseparable from combat effectiveness. Reiterating his guiding principle that motivated personnel are the foundation of airpower, he pledged sustained investment in accommodation, medical support, allowances and working conditions.
The durbar allowed candid exchanges on operational and welfare concerns, with the CAS assuring personnel that issues raised would be addressed through structured and priority-driven interventions.
He concluded by urging unwavering professionalism and dedication, affirming that the Nigerian Air Force will continue to strengthen its people while intensifying operations nationwide. The visit underscored a clear operational truth: when personnel are supported, the force is stronger, and mission success becomes inevitable.