The newly confirmed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has pledged to lead a versatile, disciplined and technologically advanced Nigerian Air Force (NAF) that will keep insurgents running without time to think or plan.
AVM Aneke said his leadership will redefine airpower in Nigeria with a focus on strategy, speed and precision.
In a statement released by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the new Air Chief was quoted as saying that the Force under his command will be “lethal in a professional sense not reckless, but relentlessly effective.” The statement emphasized that AVM Aneke’s leadership vision revolves around four key pillars that lay emphasis on training, technology, safety and strategic innovation with a commitment to ensuring that true military power is not measured by brute force, but by superior intellect and adaptability.
Speaking with resolve during his confirmation before the National Assembly, AVM Aneke vowed to build an Air Force that responds swiftly, strikes precisely and acts intelligently across all spectrums of military operations as a force defined not only by strength but by professionalism and purpose. His nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aligns with Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, empowering the President to appoint Service Chiefs subject to legislative approval. With his confirmation, AVM Aneke officially succeeds Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, joining the Armed Forces Council alongside other Service Chiefs.
Lawmakers at the confirmation session commended AVM Aneke’s operational insight, leadership record and academic depth. Many highlighted his tenure as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, where he enhanced strategic airlift capabilities and improved joint operations; a move credited with strengthening the NAF’s responsiveness in complex security theatres. His contributions to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations were also praised for shaping Nigeria’s counter-insurgency outcomes and advancing air-enabled security strategy.
Beyond the personal merit of his appointment, analysts note that AVM Aneke’s confirmation represents a dual victory, constitutionally for reinforcing civilian oversight in the Armed Forces and strategically for ensuring leadership continuity in the modernization of the Air Force. His approach, blending tactical discipline with academic sophistication, is expected to deepen civil-military trust and extend the NAF’s influence across Africa’s airpower landscape.
A scholar, pilot and strategist, AVM Aneke is a graduate of the United States Air War College, Montgomery, Alabama and holds advanced degrees in Strategic Studies, International Affairs and Diplomacy and Political Economy and Development Studies. With over 4,300 flight hours across multiple aircraft types, he ranks among Nigeria’s most accomplished aviators and forward-looking defense thinkers.
Dignitaries at the confirmation session included the Minister of Defence, Dr. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado.
