By Harriet Tornguvan
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has accompanied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, on an official working visit to Ankara, Republic of Türkiye, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s strategic defence posture and accelerating military modernisation.
The visit highlights the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing national security through stronger international partnerships and improved access to advanced defence technologies in response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
During the trip, President Tinubu held bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart, discussions which resulted in the signing of nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering key sectors including defence, trade, education, media, and technology.
The agreements are expected to provide Nigeria with opportunities for structured skills transfer, technological advancement, and long-term institutional cooperation to support national development and security objectives.
Speaking on the importance of the engagements, the Minister of Defence said the visit reflects the President’s determination to confront insecurity head-on.
“This administration is committed to equipping the Armed Forces with the right capabilities, partnerships, and technologies required to defeat terrorism, banditry, and other threats to our national stability,” General Musa said.
As part of efforts to deepen defence and air power collaboration, Air Marshal Aneke and the Defence Minister visited major Turkish defence industry institutions, including ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and HAVELSAN. The delegation also held several high-level bilateral defence meetings under Türkiye’s Secretariat of Defence.
The engagements provided the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) with an opportunity to review existing procurement arrangements, improve maintenance and sustainment support, expand training programmes, and advance research and development aimed at boosting indigenous capacity within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Officials said the outcomes of the visit would have direct operational benefits for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and other asymmetric threats, with expectations of improved intelligence, surveillance, precision engagement, and close air support capabilities.
Air Marshal Aneke reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to national security, noting that the service remains focused on delivering smarter air power for safer communities.
“This strategic engagement reinforces our capacity to support ground forces more effectively, dominate the air domain, and decisively degrade threats confronting our nation,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that the combined resolve of the President, the Ministry of Defence, and the Armed Forces will continue to translate into improved security, fostering economic growth, stability, and sustainable national development.
