By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a highly combat-ready force capable of confronting and defeating security threats across the country, following the successful conduct of its 2026 Second Quarter Route March Exercise held simultaneously across all Commands and formations nationwide.
According to an official signed statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the exercise took place on June 6, 2026, with participation from officers, airmen, and airwomen across the Service.
The statement noted that the route march was conducted concurrently at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja, as well as the Service’s six Commands, including the Tactical Air Command in Makurdi, the Special Operations Command in Bauchi, the Mobility Command in Bayelsa State, the Air Training Command in Kaduna, the Ground Training Command in Enugu, and the Logistics Command in Lagos, alongside other NAF units and formations nationwide.
Speaking at the closing ceremony held at Headquarters NAF Camp Abuja, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi, described the nationwide exercise as a reflection of the Service’s collective commitment to physical fitness, operational preparedness, and mission effectiveness.
Air Marshal Aneke stated that the evolving security landscape requires personnel who are physically fit, mentally resilient, and professionally prepared to operate effectively in diverse and challenging operational environments. He explained that the route march remains a critical component of the NAF’s force development efforts aimed at enhancing endurance, discipline, resilience, and overall combat readiness.
The CAS said the exercise aligns with his Command Philosophy of sustaining a highly motivated, professional, and mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive airpower effects in synergy with surface forces to achieve national security objectives.
He stressed that maintaining peak physical fitness among personnel is essential to sustaining the operational tempo required to tackle terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, crude oil theft, and other security challenges confronting the nation.
“The security challenges facing our country demand a force that is always prepared to respond swiftly and decisively. Physical fitness and mental toughness are fundamental attributes of military professionalism and remain key enablers of operational success,” he said.
The CAS further observed that beyond improving physical fitness, the exercise promotes teamwork, cohesion, discipline, and esprit de corps among personnel, qualities he described as indispensable to the successful execution of joint and air-ground operations across various theatres.
To sustain the gains achieved through the exercise, Air Marshal Aneke directed all personnel to actively participate in weekly Wednesday sporting activities across NAF bases and formations. He noted that regular sporting engagements not only promote health and wellness but also foster unity, peaceful coexistence, and talent discovery, while keeping personnel positively engaged and focused on their professional duties.
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his continued support towards enhancing the operational capabilities and ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Air Force.
The CAS commended officers, airmen, and airwomen across all Commands and formations for their enthusiastic participation and dedication to the exercise.
The statement added that the simultaneous conduct of the Second Quarter Route March Exercise across the six NAF Commands and other formations nationwide underscores the Service’s unwavering determination to maintain a fit, disciplined, and mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive airpower while working seamlessly with sister services and other security agencies to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national security.
