The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has officially assumed the Chairmanship of the Association of African Air Forces (AAAF), reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership in regional airpower collaboration.
Speaking at the African Air Chiefs’ Symposium in Zambia, Abubakar underscored the pressing need for enhanced regional cooperation to combat security threats such as terrorism, insurgency, and transnational crime. He emphasized that stronger partnerships and intelligence-sharing among African nations are critical to achieving sustainable security.
As the new AAAF Chairman, he pledged to:
– Strengthen strategic partnerships among African air forces.
– Improve interoperability to foster joint military operations.
– Enhance humanitarian and disaster response capabilities across the continent.
Additionally, Abubakar reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to hosting the African Air Chiefs’ Symposium in 2026, ensuring a platform for continued dialogue and collaboration among African military leaders.
In a further demonstration of Nigeria’s growing influence in regional airpower discussions, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been selected to host the Fourth African Air Forces Forum in Lagos from May 21 to 23, 2025. This makes Nigeria the first country to host the forum back-to-back, solidifying its status as a key player in Africa’s evolving defense strategy.
With these developments, Nigeria continues to position itself as a driving force in regional security, air defense cooperation, and humanitarian response efforts across the continent.
