The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening strategic defence cooperation with the Czech Republic as part of ongoing efforts to advance national security and regional stability.
Giving the assurance today, Tuesday, 19th August 2025, by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, while receiving the Junior Deputy Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, Radka Konderlova, and her delegation at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja, the CAS noted that the visit was a reflection of the long-standing friendship between both nations and their shared commitment to peace, stability, and the advancement of aerospace and defence capabilities.
Highlighting the significance of the visit, Air Marshal Abubakar commended the Czech Republic’s active role in global peace through the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), while emphasizing Nigeria’s pivotal contributions to regional stability through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to him, “This engagement could not have come at a more auspicious time, as the Nigerian Air Force continues its deliberate transformation into an agile and resilient force capable of meeting the airpower demands of national security in all operational environments.”
The CAS further underscored NAF’s frontline role in countering terrorism, insurgency, and violent extremism across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. He explained that through sustained air operations, the Service has significantly degraded the capabilities of violent non-state actors and disrupted their operational networks.
He also highlighted NAF’s contributions in the maritime domain, particularly in securing critical national infrastructure and countering piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, stressing that such engagements reinforce Nigeria’s enduring commitment to collective security across Africa and the international community.
Speaking during the engagement, the Czech Junior Deputy Minister of Defence reaffirmed her country’s readiness to broaden defence cooperation with Nigeria, stating that air defence is the backbone of national security and Nigeria is one of the biggest partners to Czech Republic.
While emphasizing the importance of technology transfer and sustainable capacity-building, she averred: “Nigeria remains a critical partner for the Czech Republic in Africa, particularly in the shared pursuit of peace and stability.
“Beyond defence, our partnership also carries immense potential for technology transfer and human capital development. We are committed to working closely with the Nigerian Air Force not only to advance aerospace technologies and training cooperation but also to promote solutions that empower local industries and strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture in a sustainable way. This approach ensures that our collaboration contributes to both national development and global peace.”
Looking to the future, both parties identified key areas of collaboration, including logistics and sustainment support for the NAF’s L-39ZA fleet in partnership with Aero Vodochody, overhaul and acquisition of Mi-series helicopters, capacity-building for aircraft technicians, as well as advancements in aerospace engineering, avionics, and unmanned aerial systems.
NAF also expressed interest in cybersecurity, space technology, advanced radar systems, counter-drone capabilities, and signal interception technologies, citing opportunities for collaboration with Czech companies such as Avast, RETIA, and ERA.
Air Marshal Abubakar reiterated optimism that the strategic engagement would yield enduring benefits for both nations.
“I am confident that the initiatives we have outlined, anchored on mutual respect and a common commitment to global peace, will yield lasting security, mutual prosperity, and a stronger partnership that will serve not only our countries but also the entire African region and the global community,” he affirmed.
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