The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) recorded more than 2,900 sorties and 6,100 flying hours in 11 months, consuming nearly 10 million litres of aviation fuel in support of national security operations.
The operations, conducted between November 2025 and September 2026, involved air strikes, surveillance, armed reconnaissance and close air support for ground troops, according to a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
The disclosure came ahead of the first anniversary of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, on October 30.
The Air Force said its missions were guided by intelligence, defined operational objectives and assessments of outcomes to ensure that each sortie contributed to efforts to tackle security threats.
The statement added that the operations were designed to weaken hostile groups, restrict their movements and improve the effectiveness of ground forces.
Beyond its operational activities, the service disclosed that it had received five additional helicopters in September as part of efforts to modernise its fleet.
The aircraft comprise three AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters and two H125 helicopters.
The NAF also said six L-39ZA aircraft were undergoing reactivation and upgrades in Slovakia and Nigeria, while the periodic depot maintenance of a C-130 aircraft was ongoing in Portugal.
It is also pursuing the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters, alongside other aircraft and unmanned aerial systems, to improve its combat, transport, training and intelligence-gathering capabilities.
On infrastructure, the Air Force said 284 projects had been approved, with 145 completed and 139 ongoing.
The projects cover residential accommodation, medical and academic facilities, operational infrastructure, roads, electricity, water supply and recreational facilities.
The service also reported improvements in personnel welfare, including allowances, medical support, accommodation and airlift services for personnel deployed in frontline operational areas.
Ejodame said 57 senior officers had been promoted to the ranks of Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodore, while 1,534 senior non-commissioned officers and 1,936 non-commissioned officers had also advanced to higher ranks.
More than 550 personnel participated in international training and professional engagements, while over 6,000 received local training to improve their technical skills, specialised competencies and leadership capacity.
The NAF further disclosed that it was pursuing local production initiatives aimed at strengthening indigenous defence capabilities. These include Aircraft Release Device 863 impulse release cartridges, a 250-kilogramme bomb-loading trolley and the development and ground testing of locally produced 57-millimetre rockets.
The service said it had also continued community-focused healthcare, education and other projects to strengthen relations with host communities.
On aviation safety, the Air Force highlighted the establishment of an Operational and Safety Audit Committee and improvements to its Safety Management System.
It is also developing mechanisms to prevent and respond to civilian harm, including standardised training and improved assessment and investigation capabilities.
The service said plans were underway to establish an Open-Source Intelligence Centre to strengthen situational awareness and operational planning through publicly available information and emerging technologies.
Aneke’s transformation agenda, according to the statement, focuses on operational effectiveness, personnel welfare, technological advancement and institutional accountability.
The Air Force said it would continue to prioritise joint operations, strategic partnerships, aircraft maintenance and professional development to improve its response to Nigeria’s security challenges.
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