By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has embarked on a three-day operational visit to the Logistics Command in Lagos, beginning from February 2, 2026, to evaluate the readiness of personnel, equipment and critical facilities that sustain the Service’s counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations across the country.
The visit, according to the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, is aimed at reinforcing the central role of logistics in modern air warfare, where the effectiveness of airpower projection depends largely on resilient supply chains, efficient maintenance systems and a highly motivated workforce.
During engagements with commanders and personnel, the CAS stressed that operational success is inseparable from logistics strength, noting that the speed, reach and sustainability of NAF operations are anchored on a robust logistics architecture capable of supporting nationwide missions. He explained that as the Air Force continues to expand its operational footprint, deliberate investments in logistics infrastructure and systems remain a strategic priority.
As part of the visit, Air Marshal Aneke paid a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, where he reaffirmed the enduring strategic partnership between the Nigerian Air Force and the Lagos State Government. He described Lagos as a critical hub within the NAF operational ecosystem, hosting the Logistics Command and several key establishments that support air operations across the federation.
“Lagos remains central to our capacity to project airpower nationwide. The efficiency of our operations is closely linked to the stability, cooperation and strong support we continue to enjoy within the state,” the CAS said. He commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for his leadership and sustained investments in infrastructure and security, observing that the safety and stability of Lagos are vital to Nigeria’s economic strength and national development.
In his response, Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated the state government’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the Armed Forces, stressing that security remains the bedrock of Lagos State’s economic growth and social stability. “Lagos will continue to work hand in hand with the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies to preserve the safety of our people and protect the strategic importance of our state to the nation,” the Governor assured.
The CAS also acknowledged the effective synergy between the NAF and Lagos State in joint security operations, particularly under Operation MESA, where NAF air surveillance and intelligence capabilities complement the efforts of sister services and other security agencies in strengthening the state’s overall security architecture.
At the commissioning of newly completed infrastructure projects at 055 NAF Camp, Legico Barracks, Air Marshal Aneke reaffirmed that personnel welfare remains a core pillar of operational effectiveness. He stated that a motivated force is the foundation of mission success, adding that the newly completed projects reflect the Service’s command philosophy of building and sustaining a professional, mission-ready Air Force capable of delivering decisive airpower effects in close synergy with surface forces.
He noted that the growing logistics demands associated with counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations require sustained investment in facilities that directly enhance morale, efficiency and living standards of personnel.
The projects commissioned include two blocks of 24 two-bedroom flats, a block of 40 one-bedroom flats, and a purpose-built sports complex designed to promote physical fitness and general wellbeing. The CAS described the facilities as a major upgrade over traditional barracks accommodation and disclosed that Legico Barracks, situated in a prime residential area of Lagos, now ranks among the most dignified residential environments for Service personnel nationwide.
“Adequate housing reduces welfare pressures, stabilises the home front and enables our personnel to focus fully on their operational duties,” he said. He also commended his predecessor, Air Marshal H.B. Abubakar (rtd), for initiating the project and urged beneficiaries to sustain a culture of discipline, maintenance and ownership of the facilities.
Expressing appreciation to the Federal Government and the National Assembly for sustained fiscal support to the Service, the CAS particularly thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering backing of the Nigerian Air Force. He charged officers, airmen and airwomen to remain disciplined ambassadors of the Service and to continue fostering cordial relations with host communities and sister security agencies.
He concluded that the visit reflects a deliberate integration of logistics readiness, welfare investment and intergovernmental cooperation as a unified force multiplier, reaffirming the Nigerian Air Force’s determination to remain agile, resilient and fully mission-ready in the defence of Nigeria’s national security.
