HEADQUARTERS OF THE NIGERIAN AIR FORCE
NIGERIAN AIR FORCE COMMANDS
MAIN WEAPON PLATFORMS
ACHIEVEMENTS
DEFENCE OF NIGERIAN FROM EXTERNAL AGGRESSION
AID TO CIVIL POWER/AUTHORITY
PROVISION OF SERVICES TO HOST COMMUNITIES
MEETING NIGERIA'S MILITARY OBLIGATIONS TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND
OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS
REACTIVATION OF OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY
The Nigerian Air Force Headquarters comprise of ten staff branches which formulate
policies.
The current ten staff branches are namely Policy and Plans, Training and
Operations, Aircraft Engineering, Logistics, Communications and Information Systems, Administration,
Standard and Evaluations, Air Secretary, Accounts and Budgets and Medical Services. Each Staff
Branch is
headed by a Branch Chief who is directly responsible to the Chief of Air Staff. The
Branch
Chiefs are assisted by several directors and staff officers.
The office of
the
Chief of Air Staff is structured to include the Coordinator Project Implementation
and
Monitoring Team, Finance & Account, and the Nigerian Air Force Procurement and
Plans.
The Policy and Plans Branch is responsible for the formation, development and
implementation
of strategic policies and plans in the Nigerian Air Force. The Branch also prepares
in close
consultation with other air staff branches and commands, long-range plans and
policies to
support timely, accurate and efficient employment of air power under the direction
of the
Chief of Air Staff to meet NAF mission.
The Training and Operations Branch is responsible for policies and directives for
the daily
operations of the NAF. The branch is also responsible for all training both on
ground and
aircrew duties.
The Aircraft Engineering Branch is responsible for all
matters
relating to aircraft, armament design and maintenance in the NAF on the other hand,
the
Logistics and Communications Staff Branch is responsible for policies on
provisioning,
procurement and maintenance of all equipment and infrastructure in the NAF. The
Administration Staff Branch is the hub in which most of NAF personnel and
administrative
matters revolve. It also sees to the running of the NAF in accordance with
operational
policy guidelines and requirements. The Standads and Evaluation Staff Branch is also
charged
with the responsibility of ensuring proper maintenance of standards in the NAF and
to
facilitate full-time research into specific areas of the Service with a view to
avoiding
waste in both human and material resources. The Air Secretary Branch is responsible
for the
establishment of guidelines for the recruitment, career management and maintenance
of a
balanced force structure for the NAF.
The Nigerian Air Force is currently made up of six Commands namely:
- Tactical Air Command with headquarters in Makurdi
- Special Operations Command with headquarters in Bauchi
- Mobility Command with Headquarters in Yenagoa
- Air Training Command with headquarters in Kaduna
- Ground Training Command with Headquarters in Enugu
- Logistics Command with headquarters in Lagos
The Tactical Air Command was established for the purpose of centralization of
Command
with a view to providing joint operational doctrine for the use of NAF air
tactical
forces.
Similarly, Special Operations Command was established to provide combat support
capabilities.
Mobility Command is responsible for performing the air power role of tactical and
strategic airlift in support of military operations and government.
The Air Training Command and Ground Training Command were established for the
purpose of
planning and coordinating the administrative and operational command of all NAF
training
activities,
while the Logistics Command was established to supply and maintain all the NAF
operational equipment as well as infrastructural facilities required for the
effective
accomplishment of NAF assigned tasks.
To achieve the objectives for which the NAF was set up, the Federal Government has
over the
years acquired various weapons systems to enable the NAF to effectively perform its
roles.
There are therefore, various aircraft types currently in operation in the NAF
performing
different roles. The most recent platforms added to the NAF inventory by the Federal
Government are F-7Ni, ATR-42 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and the Agusta Helicopter.
Achievement is a subjective term from the point of view of an air force that is
charged with
specific roles. However, some NAF activities which qualify as achievements are
discussed
hereunder.
At present, the NAF has an aggressive airlift capacity that provides speedy airlift
support
for sister Services, the Federal Government and its agencies both within and outside
the
country. The NAF has a Search and Rescue airlift which is made up of helicopters
capable of
performing large scale rescue operations over jungles, mountains and high seas. The
airlift
was deployed, for instance, during the NET building fire incidents in 1982 during
which many
people trapped in the building were airlifted to safety. Another instance where the
NAF
exploits readily come to mind is in the area of civil aviation.
In it's about 48 years of existence; the NAF has taken part in operations in defence
of
Nigeria's territorial integrity. The NAF participated effectively in troops lift,
logistics
re-supply, medieval and in combat, Operations HARMONY I to IV conducted in the
Eastern flank
of the country from the Maiduguri/Chad border to the Bakassi/Cameroonian' area and
Operation
GABAS in 1987 aimed at flushing out some insurgents from Chad are some good
examples.
Furthermore, in the discharge of its role of protecting Nigeria from aerial attack,
the NAF
in conjunction with the Nigerian Army Air Defence Artillery provides low-level air
defence
for airports around the country. Although lack of serviceable radar and other
equipment
continue to be a problem, working with other stakeholders, the NAF through the
offices of
the airport commandants has maintained reasonable level of operational
effectiveness. The
commencement of work on the military component of the Total Radar Coverage of
Nigeria
(TRACON) would further enhance NAF's capability in protecting Nigeria's airspace.
The NAF also helps to airlift Nigerian contingents to sporting engagements wherever
there
are flight problems or notice to move in short time. The NAF has over the years
participated
in various International Peace-keeping Operations in Lebanon from 1978 to 1982, the
OAU
Peace-keeping Operations in Chad in 1983 during which 144 NAF personnel were awarded
OAU
Medals; the UN Military Observer Group (UNIMOG) in Yugoslavia in 1988, the ECOMOG
Operations
in Liberia, UNISOM Operations in Somalia and Rwanda as well as the engagement in
Sierra
Leone. Furthermore, in support of Government's foreign policy goals, the NAF has in
recent
times airlifted relief materials to sister African countries devastated by one form
of
disaster or the other.
The NAF has similarly systematically localized almost all trades training
in
pursuance of its local training policy. Because of the high standards of facilities
and
quality of Instruction in some NAF schools, the Federal Government directed the NAF
to
provide significant military aid in term of training to some sister African
countries. To
this end, NAF has in recent years, trained military pilots and aircraft technicians
for
various African nations. The localization of training has no doubt saved the nation
huge
sums of foreign exchange in addition to making the country more self-reliance in its
training needs.
At present, the NAF has an aggressive airlift capacity that provides speedy airlift
support
for sister Services, the Federal Government and its agencies both within and outside
the
country. The NAF has a Search and Rescue airlift which is made up of helicopters
capable of
performing large scale rescue operations over jungles, mountains and high seas. The
airlift
was deployed, for instance, during the NET building fire incidents in 1982 during
which many
people trapped in the building were airlifted to safety. Another instance where the
NAF
exploits readily come to mind is in the area of civil aviation.
The NAF participated actively in various operations nationwide in aid to civil
power/authorities during the period under review. These missions range from internal
security assignments to the provision of airlift to government agencies. When
aviation
workers abandoned work for one labour protest reason or the other, NAF personnel
took over
immediate control of the airports in a few instances. In collaboration with other
aviation
stakeholders such as the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), it monitored
the
Nigerian airspace and played a supportive role in the implementation of government
policies
on the National Airport Security Programme. Some instances of NAF participation in
aid to
civil authority/power are mentioned under internal security and other engagements.
In addition to the aforementioned tasks, the NAF aids civil authority in the
provision of
liaison and light transport for both military and civilian VIPs, airlift for
presidential
visits, aerial patrol duties and ceremonial displays. Indeed, significant portion of
the
electoral materials used in the series of elections held in the country were
airlifted by
the NAF. Its search and rescue efforts helped to save many lives during the NET
Building
fire in 1982 while NAF pilots and other personnel were involved in various internal
security
operations.
Apart from the normal airlift of electoral materials conducted in support
of the
numerous electoral bodies in 1991, the NAF played an active part in the verification
of
voters registration for the then National Electoral Commission (NEC) now Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC). The NAF has also been involved in the patrol
of PHCN
power lines across the country and is in the forefront of efforts to stop illegal
oil
bunkering under OPS Restore Hope. Currently, the Nigerian Air Force is involved in
internal
Security Operations in different parts of the country. Additionally, the NAF is also
collaborating with National Emergency Management Agency in disaster response.
As currently structured, the NAF has bases in over 17 states across the country. To
cater
for the welfare and needs of its personnel, hospitals and schools were established.
These
facilities are often open to the host communities. Through these facilities, the NAF
contributes to human and national development. Furthermore, job opportunities are
also
provided for citizens in some of the ancillary services thereby improving the local
populations' living standard.
In an effort to achieve a good measure of self sufficiency in aviation technology,
NAF
entered into a joint venture agreement with the Dornier (AIEP) Limited. The joint
venture
project culminated in the development and production of made-in-Nigeria aircraft
called “Air
Beetle”. The aircraft was officially commissioned as part of activities to mark NAF
Silver
Jubilee celebration in Kaduna, on 22 April, 1989. The aircraft was developed jointly
by DANA
(AIEP) engineers, NAF pilots, engineers and technicians. Currently, the NAF is also
developing national capacity in aviation technology and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV)
through the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) in Kaduna.
In the area of peace support operations, the NAF has also left an indelible imprint.
Nigeria's outing on UN PSO is perhaps as old as the nation itself. Indeed the need
to
airlift Nigerian troops to these operations was the main factor that resulted in the
formation of the NAF. The first Nigerian troops deployed to Lebanon on UN
peacekeeping
operations from 1978-1982 relied entirely on NAF airlift assets for their
sustenance.
Also, the deployment and withdrawal of the Nigerian contingent to OAU
peacekeeping
operations in Chad in 1982/83 were carried out using NAF C-130s. Apart from these
major
operations, the NAF was involved in peacekeeping efforts in Yugoslavia, Somalia,
Rwanda,
Kuwait etc. The successes recorded by ECOMOG forces in their peacekeeping and later,
peace
enforcement efforts in Liberia and Sierra Leone would have been at a far higher
cost,
without the critical contributions of NAF air power. Currently, NAF C-130s and
personnel are
involved in airlift missions in International Peace Support Operations in aid of
United
Nations, African Union and Economic Countries of West African States.
With the advent of democracy in May 1999, plans to reverse the downward trend of
NAF's
fortunes began to be implemented. The democratic government identified the need to
have a
robust air force, hence, it began to make committed efforts at revitalizing the
Service.
This entailed revamping ageing platforms and systems as well as inducting new ones.
The
results of these efforts gradually manifested with the arrival of some of the
reactivated
aircraft and the delivery of new ones. In 2010, the NAF took delivery of the F-7Nls,
the
Agusta 109s and ATR 42s. In 2011, 4 Alpha Jets were reactivated through AETSL while
7 others
are scheduled to join the fleet soon. Similarly, several other platforms are
currently
undergoing Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM). The NAF is now able to meet essential
tasks.
Similarly, the Super Puma Helicopters are now back to operations after nearly a
decade of
conservation.
The challenges of the Vision 20:2020 has brought out the imperative of maintaining a
strong
air force more than ever before. To this effect, the CAS has coined a vision thus
"To enhance and sustain critical airpower capabilities required for joint force employment in pursuit of National Security Imperatives"
that should drive the NAF to attain capabilities necessary for the
achievement
of national objectives. The Vision should see the NAF able to discharge its
constitutional
responsibilities.
The NAF will continue to aim at a higher standards of operational
excellence and
combat readiness in carrying out its statutory roles as assigned by the President,
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari
GCFR .
Indeed the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao CFR is also
committed to
transforming the NAF through his vision to ensure that the Service is transformed
into a
model fighting force.
