Cynthia Ezegwu
The newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke, on Thursday formally assumed office with a pledge of unwavering loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and a commitment to prioritise the welfare of officers, airmen, and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
Aneke, the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, took over from Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar during a handover ceremony held at the NAF Headquarters, Abuja.
In his inaugural address, the new Air Chief described his appointment as both an honour and a humbling experience, expressing gratitude to President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him.
“My appointment as the Twenty-Third Chief of the Air Staff is both an honour and a humbling experience. I wish to specially thank the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the honour and rare privilege extended to me to serve Nigeria,” he said.
Aneke pledged his loyalty and that of all NAF personnel to the President, the Federal Government, and the people of Nigeria, vowing to sustain and build on the achievements of his predecessor, particularly in ongoing operations against insurgency and other internal security threats.
He assured that the Air Force under his command would continue to collaborate with other military and security agencies to strengthen national security.
“Together, we will leave no stone unturned in discharging our constitutional roles in conjunction with other sister services, security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies to bring about swift improvement in the security situation of Nigeria,” he added.
Emphasising personnel welfare as a central focus of his leadership, Aneke promised to ensure that the welfare needs of officers, airmen, airwomen, and their families are adequately met to boost morale and enhance operational efficiency.
He also appealed to the National Assembly to sustain its support for the Air Force, noting that legislative backing is vital to the success of ongoing security operations.
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Expressing appreciation to NAF personnel and his family for their support, the new Air Chief reaffirmed his commitment to defending the nation, stating that the Air Force remains “willing, able, and ready” to meet national defence and security demands.
In his valedictory remarks, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, described his tenure as an honour and privilege, noting that the Air Force recorded significant progress in counter-terrorism and internal security operations during his stewardship.
He urged his successor to sustain the gains made, prioritise national security, and continue to take care of personnel welfare.
“No matter how advanced our platforms are, it is the human being behind the machine who delivers airpower,” Abubakar said.
President Tinubu had, last week, appointed Air Vice Marshal Aneke as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, replacing Abubakar. His assumption of office comes at a time when public expectations for enhanced national security remain high.