The high command of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday met to review global and local security factors that may affect its operations this year.

The year’s first quarter meeting, which was held at the NAF headquarters in Abuja and chaired by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, was attended by Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), and the Commandants.

Air Marshal Abubakar told the NAF officers that Nigeria’s security situation cannot be isolated from happenings around the world due to the highly interconnected nature of today’s global environment.

The CAS said the international security landscape remained fluid, characterised by uncertainties, heightened geopolitical tensions, and evolving security threats.

He said: “As we all know, the United States plays a pivotal role in global peace and security. Consequently, the recent change in its administration and the evolving foreign policy signals have introduced uncertainties for many nations as they assess the potential impact on their strategic interests.

“We are not exempt from these dynamics. Our experience has shown that defence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States is often influenced by political considerations. Hence, we must proactively plan to mitigate any likely impact on the ongoing AH1-Z helicopter procurement and other training courses that might be conducted in the U.S.

“In Europe, the ongoing war in Ukraine continues to influence global defence strategies, with nations prioritising missile technologies, air defence systems, drone warfare, and cyber capabilities over more traditional warfare methods. This is a phenomenon we must study carefully as an Air Force and adapt quickly through innovation as we enhance our operational capabilities, going forward.

“Similarly, the Middle East remains highly unstable as a result of uncertainties in Syria and the aftermath of the conflict between Israel and Hamas as well as its neighbours. A key lesson from these conflicts is the rise in the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, artificial intelligence, drone warfare, and the manipulation of social media in shaping war narratives.

“We must critically examine these trends and quickly come up with specific strategies, including refining doctrines and utilising advanced technological capabilities to enhance our overall effectiveness in tackling contemporary and future security challenges, particularly conventional and unconventional forces in asymmetric warfare.”

Examining the security situation in the West African sub-region, Air Marshal Abubakar noted that the Sahel region continued to be a hotspot for terrorism with extremist groups exploiting weak governance structures to expand their influence.

The CAS said the situation was the same in the Gulf of Guinea, which he said remained vulnerable to maritime crimes.

“Addressing these challenges requires a unified approach, emphasising coordinated air operations, intelligence sharing, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

Air Marshal Abubakar said the military recorded significant strides in counterinsurgency operations in the Northeast and the Northwest in the first and third quarters of last year due to increased synergy between the NAF and ground forces, which led to killing of high profile terrorist leaders and commanders.

He added: “Despite our heightened efforts, the highly volatile, uncertain and complex security situation in the Sahel region continues to feed insecurity in Nigeria, as we have seen in the emergence of the Lakurawa group in the Northwest.

“We sustain this momentum, as jointly planned and executed operations have consistently delivered positive results.”