By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited have reinforced their longstanding partnership through a renewed commitment to protect Nigeria’s vital oil and gas infrastructure, a move seen as central to the nation’s economic stability. The strengthened alliance 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 of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed in an official signed statement that the visit underscored the strategic importance of enhanced collaboration between both institutions in securing national assets and supporting sustainable economic growth under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
During the meeting, Air Marshal Aneke emphasized that safeguarding critical energy installations is fundamental not only to NNPC’s operational efficiency but also to Nigeria’s broader economic resilience. He noted that the NAF remains fully committed to protecting oil pipelines, flow stations, offshore platforms and other infrastructure that sustain the national energy supply chain. According to him, intensified security measures around these installations will boost productivity in the oil and gas sector, curb revenue losses, and enhance national development outcomes.
The CAS further highlighted that ongoing joint efforts by the NAF, sister services and security agencies have contributed significantly to reducing oil theft and improving national output. He stressed the need to consolidate these gains through more coordinated, technology-driven strategies among all stakeholders. Air Marshal Aneke revealed that the NAF is scaling up its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to enhance proactive threat detection, rapid response and deterrence against insurgent activities and criminal networks across the country.
He also reaffirmed that the NAF’s expanding maritime security posture—supported by advanced surveillance platforms and integrated command structures—remains essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial waters and energy corridors. He maintained that deeper alignment of NAF operations with NNPC’s strategic priorities would provide the operational advantage required to secure critical infrastructure, ensure uninterrupted energy supply and support increased national production, all of which are vital to Nigeria’s economic recovery and growth.
In his response, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Engr Bayo Ojulari, commended the Nigerian Air Force for its unwavering dedication to national defence. He described the renewed collaboration as timely, especially as President Tinubu has charged NNPC with increasing investments, boosting productivity and delivering improved value to Nigerians. Engr Ojulari reaffirmed that NNPC’s partnership with the NAF is indispensable to ensuring energy security, stabilizing production levels and fostering a safer operating environment for workers and industry stakeholders.
He assured the CAS that the NNPC remains committed to expanding cooperation to further enhance NAF operations, particularly in intelligence sharing, joint operational planning and the deployment of modern security technologies across vulnerable national assets.
Reiterating the Air Force’s unwavering commitment, Air Marshal Aneke assured the NNPC leadership that the NAF will remain a dependable partner in protecting national resources and confronting threats posed by insurgents, vandals and criminal groups. He stressed that the renewed partnership between both institutions will not only fortify coastal and maritime security but also support Nigeria’s broader national development and economic aspirations.
