Nigeria Air Force chief stresses communication and air power as key to national security

Air Marshal Sunday (Kelvin) Aneke, Chief of the Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force, told audiences in Abuja that effective, strategic communication is essential for military leadership and public confidence. Speaking at the unveiling of a public‑speaking handbook and in a lecture to National Defence College officers, he described communication as a force multiplier that reinforces institutional credibility.

He also argued that air power has become a strategic enabler of Nigeria’s national security, necessary to counter emerging threats such as cyber attacks, drone proliferation, piracy and arms trafficking. Aneke highlighted the need for intelligence‑led operations, joint force integration and close cooperation between the armed forces, security agencies and the public to defeat these challenges. The chief stressed that decisive air power works best in synergy with ground forces and that indigenous innovation and strategic partnerships are vital for sustaining capability.