The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited have reaffirmed and expanded their long-standing partnership aimed at protecting critical oil and gas infrastructure vital to the country’s economic stability.
This renewed commitment was highlighted during a courtesy visit by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, to the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, on 25 November 2025 in Abuja. Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement.
During the meeting, Air Marshal Aneke emphasized that securing pipelines, flow stations, offshore platforms, and other essential infrastructure is central to sustaining Nigeria’s energy supply chain and economic resilience. He noted that the Air Force remains fully committed to supporting NNPC’s operations through enhanced surveillance, rapid response, and strengthened security measures across strategic national assets.
According to the CAS, collaborative efforts between the Air Force, other security agencies, and stakeholders have significantly reduced oil theft and contributed to improved national output.
He stressed the need to consolidate these gains through more integrated and technology-driven operations, adding that the NAF is expanding its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to better detect and deter emerging threats.
Air Marshal Aneke also noted that NAF’s growing maritime security posture—boosted by advanced surveillance platforms and coordinated command structures—remains essential to securing Nigeria’s territorial integrity and protecting key energy corridors. Strengthened alignment with NNPC, he added, will bolster operational effectiveness, promote uninterrupted energy supply, and support Nigeria’s broader economic recovery agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision.
In his response, NNPC GCEO, Engr Ojulari, commended the Nigerian Air Force for its unwavering dedication to national defence and described the enhanced cooperation as timely and strategic.
He noted that the partnership is crucial to improving energy security, stabilizing production levels, and ensuring a safer operating environment for the oil and gas sector. Ojulari pledged NNPC’s continued support for NAF operations, including joint planning, intelligence sharing, and the deployment of modern technologies across vulnerable installations.
Reassuring NNPC of the Air Force’s steadfast commitment, Air Marshal Aneke reaffirmed that the NAF will continue to play a pivotal role in safeguarding national resources, combating threats posed by insurgents and vandals, and enhancing the productivity of Nigeria’s energy sector.
The renewed collaboration, leaders of both institutions agreed, will not only strengthen coastal and maritime security but also advance national development and economic stability.
