The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to enhancing operational safety and sustaining peak combat readiness through rigorous training, strict compliance with airworthiness standards, and continuous modernisation of its fleet.
Air Marshal Aneke made this known on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, while declaring open a two-day Airworthiness Seminar organised by the Aircraft Engineering Branch at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force in Abuja.
The seminar convened senior engineering officers, maintenance commanders, logistics experts, and key aviation stakeholders to explore strategies for improving aircraft safety, fleet sustainability, and overall operational readiness.
Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal A.Y. Abdullahi, the CAS stressed that airworthiness remains a critical and non-negotiable element in the effective projection of air power.
He underscored that the safety, reliability, and serviceability of NAF platforms are essential to mission success, particularly in ongoing counter-terrorism and internal security operations across the country.
He further noted that the seminar aligns with his command philosophy of transforming the Nigerian Air Force into a more capable, professional, and mission-ready force through innovation, discipline, and adherence to high operational standards.
According to him, the institutionalisation of robust maintenance procedures, continuous capacity development, and a strong culture of professionalism—anchored on purposeful lethality, mission effectiveness, and sustained combat capability—will remain central to the Service’s growth.
A key highlight of the seminar was a technical presentation by Mr. Clementi Giorgio, Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of the International Test Pilot School, Ontario, Canada. In his presentation, he shared global best practices in flight test safety, airworthiness certification, and emerging technologies in aircraft maintenance management.
The seminar is expected to further strengthen the Nigerian Air Force’s maintenance culture, enhance operational efficiency, and boost its readiness to meet evolving air power demands in defence of the nation.
