By Favour Chioma
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has accompanied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, on a high-level official working visit to Ankara, Republic of Türkiye, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s defence posture and accelerating military modernisation.
This was contained in a statement signed by Ehimen Ejodame Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force January 29, 2026
According to the ststatement the strategic visit, which commenced on January 26, 2026, underscores the Federal Government’s resolve to proactively respond to evolving security threats through enhanced international partnerships, technology transfer, and capacity development.
During the visit, President Tinubu held bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart, culminating in the signing of nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across key sectors including defence, trade, education, media, and technology.
The agreements are expected to translate shared interests into tangible cooperation, expand Nigeria’s access to advanced technologies, and strengthen institutional frameworks that support long-term national security and development.
Speaking on the engagements, the Minister of Defence, General Musa, said the visit reflects the President’s firm directive to decisively address Nigeria’s security challenges. He noted that the administration remains committed to equipping the Armed Forces with the capabilities, partnerships, and technologies required to combat terrorism, banditry, and other threats to national stability.
In furtherance of defence and air power cooperation, the CAS and the Minister of Defence visited major Turkish defence industry institutions, including ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and HAVELSAN, all operating under Türkiye’s Secretariat of Defence.
The delegation also held several high-level bilateral defence meetings focused on optimising existing procurement arrangements, enhancing maintenance and sustainment support, expanding training opportunities, advancing research and development, and deepening indigenous capacity-building initiatives for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The engagements are expected to yield direct operational benefits for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), particularly in ongoing efforts against terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and other asymmetric threats. Discussions centred on improving access to advanced aerospace technologies, mission-support systems, and sustainment solutions capable of enhancing intelligence, surveillance, precision engagement, and close air support across multiple theatres of operation.
Air Marshal Aneke reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to national security, stating that the Service remains focused on delivering smarter air power to ensure safer communities. He emphasized that the strategic engagements in Türkiye will further strengthen the NAF’s ability to support ground forces, dominate the air domain, and decisively degrade threats confronting the nation.
He assured Nigerians that the collective resolve of the President, the Ministry of Defence, and the Armed Forces will continue to translate into improved security, economic growth, stability, and sustainable national development.
