…Says intelligence, air power, inter-agency synergy key to defeating terrorists, bandits and emerging security threats
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has declared that no single military service can defeat Nigeria’s growing security challenges, insisting that only intelligence-driven operations, integrated military action and decisive air power can effectively overcome terrorism, banditry and other emerging threats confronting the country.
Speaking on Friday while delivering a lecture titled “Air Power and National Security: The Nigerian Air Force in Perspective” to participants of National Defence College Course 34 in Abuja, the Air Chief said Nigeria’s evolving security environment demands stronger collaboration among the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies and other security institutions.
Addressing senior officers of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force and Police, alongside participants from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and 20 foreign participants from allied countries, Aneke said the nation’s security architecture must embrace a whole-of-government approach to effectively tackle modern threats.
He stressed that “No single Service can secure the nation alone,” adding that “Decisive air power delivers its greatest effect in synergy with surface forces.”
According to him, sustained operational success depends on intelligence sharing, joint planning and synchronised execution across air, land, maritime, cyber and human intelligence domains.
The CAS observed that Nigeria’s security challenges have gone beyond conventional warfare, with terrorists, bandits, separatist groups and transnational criminal networks increasingly exploiting emerging technologies, difficult terrain and civilian populations to evade security forces.
He said such threats require integrated intelligence structures capable of providing a unified operational picture for timely and decisive military action.
Air Marshal Aneke described air power as a strategic national asset that provides the speed, precision, flexibility and reach required for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, rapid troop deployment, border security, maritime protection and precision strikes, while minimising civilian casualties.
He also warned that cyber threats, unmanned aerial systems, information warfare, piracy, arms trafficking and other transnational crimes are rapidly reshaping Nigeria’s security landscape.
The Air Chief cautioned that hostile actors are increasingly using cyberspace and social media to spread disinformation, deepen social divisions and erode public confidence in government institutions, making strategic communication and cyber resilience essential elements of national security.
Reflecting on the Nigerian Air Force’s journey over the past six decades, Aneke said the Service’s operational experiences have underscored the need for indigenous capacity development, innovation, logistics resilience and continuous force modernisation.
He reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to strengthening its operational capabilities through indigenous innovation, advanced intelligence systems, emerging technologies and strategic partnerships.
According to him, national security goes beyond protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and includes safeguarding democratic institutions, protecting critical national infrastructure, preserving economic prosperity and ensuring the safety of citizens.
He urged participants, who are expected to become future strategic leaders, to continue promoting joint operations, innovation and inter-agency cooperation as indispensable tools for addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.