The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, has harped on transformation, innovation, and the will to fight in enhancing military effectiveness across the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
Speaking during the Third Quarter 2025 Defence Headquarters and Services Transformation Seminar held at Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja, on 25th September 2025, the Air Chief emphasized that the seminar marked another milestone in efforts to develop strategies for strengthening national defence and operational readiness.
He reiterated that Nigerian military personnel deployed across all six geopolitical zones remain steadfast in restoring peace, law, and order through joint and inter-agency operations.
Air Marshal Abubakar stressed that beyond procuring modern technology and providing welfare services, intangible assets such as loyalty, trust, resilience, and unit cohesion remain the cornerstone of victory.
Citing General Erwin Rommel’s maxim that “the best form of welfare for troops is first class training,” he noted that the seminar theme — “Galvanizing the Will to Fight: Issues and Transformative Solutions for the Armed Forces of Nigeria” — was both timely and critical.
He explained that the will to fight goes beyond weapons, encompassing psychological stability, physical fitness, ideological conviction, and confidence in leadership.
He observed that the Armed Forces have over the years made deliberate efforts to consolidate troops’ will to fight, especially amid daunting challenges in various theatres of operations.
He highlighted that the interactive sessions would provide participants with opportunities to generate sustainable strategies for enhancing morale, cohesion, and resilience, ensuring operational gains are not only maintained but also deepened in the future.
In reviewing NAF’s transformative strides, the CAS announced that the Service had strengthened the application of airpower in joint operations while prioritising civilian harm mitigation.
Training has been upscaled to boost capacity for innovation, with robust incentives introduced for personnel who proffer solutions through research and development.
Notably, the CAS disclosed the resuscitation of the Nigerian Air Force Surveillance Aircraft (NAFSA) Eagle Project, a light multi-role utility aircraft aimed at enhancing self-reliance in aerospace technology and advancing domestic innovation in the aviation industry.
Air Marshal Abubakar further underscored welfare as a critical enabler of the will to fight. He highlighted initiatives including massive accommodation projects across NAF Bases nationwide, the establishment of the Nigerian Air Force College of Logistics, enhanced medical facilities, comprehensive insurance policies, and full kitting of personnel.
In logistics, over 70 new vehicles were procured within the last year to support operations and administration, while fitness initiatives have been institutionalised to improve physical readiness. These efforts, he said, reflect NAF’s commitment to ensuring that personnel remain mentally, physically, and morally prepared for assigned tasks.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Headquarters NAF, Air Vice Marshal AH Amesinlola, commended participants for their commitment to advancing transformative solutions within the Armed Forces.
He noted that the seminar provided a vital platform for cross-service collaboration, intellectual exchange, and the pursuit of innovative approaches to complex security challenges.
The CAS, while declaring the seminar open, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for consistently supporting the Armed Forces with modern platforms and an enabling environment to execute their constitutional mandate, urging participants to deliberate productively and deliver outcomes that will strengthen the collective will to fight.
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