The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar has said that the exit of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has increased the responsibility of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the ongoing counter insurgency war.
Abubakar said the recent withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) from the existing security framework has disrupted the security network in the sub-region, thereby making the anti-insurgency/terrorism campaigns a bigger burden on the Nigerian military.
The NAF chief, who made this known at the opening of the First Quarter Meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding and Commanders of the various units and commands of the NAF, taking place in Abuja, the FCT, said their exit has direct implications for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which plays a crucial role in countering Boko Haram and ISWAP across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
“With AES member States opting out and Chad considering withdrawal, the MNJTF’s capacity to conduct joint operations is now significantly affected.
“As a result, the burden on the Armed Forces of Nigeria to support the MNJTF will increase, demanding a more robust, agile, and adaptive response from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
“Strengthening operational readiness, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and leveraging advanced air power will be critical in mitigating these evolving threats as we progress through 2025,” Abubakar said.
Abubakar, while noting that the Sahel region has remained a focal point for terrorism and insurgency, with Al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist groups exploiting weak governance structures to expand their influence, lamented that the porous borders in the Lake Chad Basin, have enabled extremist elements to sustain their activities, posing a persistent threat to regional stability
According to him, the Gulf of Guinea has also remained vulnerable to maritime crimes, including piracy and illegal oil bunkering, necessitating sustained aerial surveillance and stronger regional cooperation to bolster maritime security.
To stop the menace, according to the NAF chief, there must be a unified approach, emphasising coordinated air operations, intelligence sharing, and strategic partnerships, Abubakar pointed out, explaining that the meeting was aimed at reviewing the security landscape of Nigeria in 2024, critically assess NAF’s operational successes and challenges, and project actionable strategies for the operations of the Nigerian Air Force in 2025.
He, therefore, charged participants to engage in meaningful discussions with utmost commitment, foresight, and resolve.
“As the senior leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, we shoulder the vital responsibility of ensuring the effective deployment of air power in support of national security objectives,” the CAS declared.
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