The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) recently completed a four-day operational tour of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) units and formations across the South-West from 12 to 15 December 2024, reinforcing his commitment to operational readiness and personnel welfare. The tour of Lagos units included the 055 NAF Camp Victoria Island, 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot (ACMD) and 643 Equipment Supply Depot (ESD) in Ikeja, and the 663 NAF Mother & Child Hospital in Badagry. Ongoing infrastructural and technical upgrades were reviewed and a symbolic tree-planting exercise was held at the 643 ESD, underscoring the NAF's commitment to sustainability. Also amongst highlights of the Lagos swing, was the commissioning of the NAF Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA) Multipurpose Hall at the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja; the edifice was designed and constructed under the direction of the NAFOWA National President, Architect (Dr) Rakiya Abubakar. This new NAFOWA facility is designed to enhance welfare and family activities on the Base

Moving on from Lagos, the CAS next visited the new Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School in Igbara-Oke, Ondo State, before proceeding to the NAF Institute of Safety Ipetu Ijesha, and the Air Force Research and Development Institute (AFRDI) Oshogbo, both in Osun State. The tour subsequently ended with an assessment of the ongoing work on the permanent site for the NAF School of Finance and Accounting (NAFSFA) in Ibadan, Oyo State. Innovation and capacity-building were key themes of the tour, in addition to constructive engagement with the NAF personnel serving at all the various locations visited. Significantly, the CAS took time at each location to have robust Durbars (essentially the military equivalent of Town Hall meetings), reinforcing shared understanding of his Command Philosophy whilst eliciting vital feedback from the personnel. At the AFRDI, the CAS reviewed ongoing projects focused on advancing indigenous technology. Concerning all ongoing technical and infrastructural upgrades, the CAS was emphatic in his strategic guidance on the need for excellent and timely work in line with international best practices, in order for the NAF and indeed the nation to derive optimal value from the investments made.

Through these visits, the CAS reinforced the NAF’s commitment to teamwork, discipline, and innovation, laying a strong foundation for a more agile, resilient, and effective Air Force ready to meet both current and future security challenges.