The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has modernized several of its airfields to support 24-hour operations, ensuring its planes can land and take off at any hour. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, revealed this during an interaction with retired personnel at the Logistics Command in Lagos.
The Kaduna airfield now features an Integrated Management System (IMS) and operational runway lights. Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized, “We have no business giving excuses for an airfield being non-operational at any time of the day.”
In the past 18 months, the NAF has strengthened its combat capabilities with the delivery of 12 new platforms, including fighter jets and transport planes, procured with the support of President Bola Tinubu. The force is set to receive 50 more platforms between 2025 and 2026, including helicopters and other aircraft, to support efforts against terrorism, banditry, and insurgency.
Looking to the future, NAF has established the Air Power Centre of Excellence, which will serve as a hub for airpower research and training, bringing together serving and retired officers to contribute their expertise.
In addition to operational upgrades, the NAF has raised the feeding fees for students in its schools from N500 to N1,500 per meal, aiming to improve students’ well-being. A new admissions policy prioritizes personnel and veterans over civilians for placements in NAF schools.
The NAF has also introduced an accident policy to assist injured personnel. The policy has already disbursed payments, with some recipients receiving up to N5 million for immediate relief.