Air Marshal Anek: Integrated Approach Needed for Security

During a lecture titled "Air Power and National Security: A Nigerian Air Force Perspective" at the National Defence College in Abuja on July 3, 2026, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadiq Anek declared that Nigeria's increasing security threats cannot be addressed by any single service alone. He stressed the importance of integrated military operations and a whole-of-government approach to effectively respond to contemporary security challenges, which include terrorism, banditry, and transnational crime.

Anek highlighted the necessity of deep inter-agency collaboration and intelligence sharing to create a unified operational picture for timely decision-making. He noted that the evolving security landscape in Nigeria is complicated by non-state actors exploiting emerging technologies and difficult terrains.

Anek also identified cyber threats and the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems as significant challenges. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force's commitment to strengthening its capabilities through indigenous innovation and strategic partnerships to support national security.