ABUJA, July 25, 2025 – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has enhanced its aerial warfare capabilities with the induction of a new set of combat-ready Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operators, as part of efforts to maintain strategic dominance across Nigeria’s airspace and support ongoing security operations.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, disclosed this during the graduation ceremony of the UAV Basic and Conversion Course held at the 401 Flying Training School, Kaduna. He said the training aligns with the NAF’s operational objectives to strengthen surveillance, precision strikes, and intelligence-gathering in conflict-prone areas across the country.
According to Air Marshal Abubakar, the newly certified UAV pilots are equipped with cutting-edge skills to operate and maintain advanced drone systems in both peacetime intelligence missions and real-time combat scenarios. He stressed that their deployment would significantly boost the NAF’s ability to monitor criminal hideouts, insurgent enclaves, and volatile zones with improved efficiency and minimal risk to personnel.
“This graduation marks another step in the actualisation of our air power projection strategy. As asymmetric threats evolve, so must our capabilities. These operators will serve as critical assets in supporting joint military operations and national security efforts,” he said.
The development comes amid sustained military campaigns against terrorism, banditry, and oil theft across Nigeria’s northern and southern regions. With UAVs already playing a vital role in surveillance and strike operations, the addition of more trained operators is expected to deepen the effectiveness of air-to-ground coordination and real-time intelligence delivery.
The Chief of Training and Operations, Air Vice Marshal Nnamdi Ananaba, urged the graduates to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and discipline in service. He noted that UAV technology remains pivotal to the modern battlefield, especially in complex and irregular warfare environments.
The Nigerian Air Force has steadily expanded its UAV fleet over the past decade, acquiring both locally produced and foreign-manufactured systems, as part of broader efforts to modernize Nigeria’s defence architecture.
