Nigeria’s newly confirmed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke, has outlined a bold vision to transform the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) into a “lethal, disciplined and intelligent” force, capable of pre-empting threats and dominating the nation’s airspace with precision and agility.
Speaking during his confirmation hearing before the National Assembly on Wednesday, Aneke said the new NAF would be “a force that responds swiftly, strikes precisely, and acts intelligently across all spectrums of military operations.”
“I use the word ‘lethal’ in a professional sense,” he clarified, “because a man running from you will not have time to plan to hurt you.”
Aneke’s philosophy, according to a statement by NAF spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, will rest on four pillars — training, technology, safety and strategic innovation. His goal: to shape a 21st-century air force defined not by sheer firepower but by adaptability, intellect and precision warfare.
Lawmakers praised Aneke’s operational record, noting his success as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, where he enhanced Nigeria’s strategic airlift capacity, improved joint operations and strengthened intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions vital to counter-insurgency operations.
His confirmation, following President Bola Tinubu’s nomination, was made under Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act. Aneke now replaces Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar and becomes a member of the Armed Forces Council.
Observers say the appointment reflects Tinubu’s confidence in technocratic military leadership and signals continuity in the NAF’s modernisation drive — with an emphasis on digital warfare systems, precision targeting, and unmanned aerial capability.
Aneke’s career combines operational excellence with academic depth. A graduate of the United States Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, he holds Master’s degrees in Strategic Studies, International Affairs and Diplomacy, and Political Economy and Development Studies. He has logged more than 4,300 flight hours across multiple aircraft types.
His confirmation hearing was attended by the Minister of Defence, Dr Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado.
As he assumes command, Aneke declared that the Nigerian Air Force would become “a shield of national confidence — swift in action, precise in strike and intelligent in execution.”
