The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar, has disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was expanding its intelligence acquisition capacity to effectively combat evolving security challenges bedevilling the country.
Abubakar stated this Friday in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, at the graduation ceremony of the Regimental Intelligence and Security Officers Course 4/2025.
The CAS said in the current dynamic security environment, threats to national security have grown increasingly asymmetric, complex and unpredictable.
He said that non-state actors, organised criminal groups and internal saboteurs now operate with a level of coordination and stealth that demands a proactive, intelligence-led approach to effective security.
“These evolving challenges have necessitated a shift in how the Nigerian Air Force anticipates, prepares and responds to emerging threats within and beyond its operational environment.
“In recognition of this imperative, the Nigerian Air Force identified a critical need to expand its intelligence acquisition capacity to other specialties.”
The CAS said the establishment of the Regimental Intelligence and Security Officers Course by the Air Intelligence Branch is a strategic initiative aimed at equipping a select cadre of officers with foundational and applied skills in intelligence and regimental security.
He said the participants were drawn from diverse branches to foster a service-wide integration of intelligence principles and practices.
“The overarching goal is to close intelligence gaps across bases and operational theatres by developing officers capable of providing timely, actionable intelligence to support NAF operations,” he said.
According to him, intelligence remains the bedrock of effective air operations, and informs decision-making, drives mission planning, and shapes operational outcomes.
Abubakar said the integration of intelligence capabilities across various NAF specialities would enhance its situational awareness and mission readiness.
He said the successful completion of the course marks a strategic gain for the service and positioned the graduates to play a pivotal role in strengthening the intelligence architecture of the NAF.
He urged participants to apply their newly acquired expertise to advance the service’s mission, exemplify professionalism, and bring clarity to uncertainty, foresight to decision-making, and resilience to operations.
The Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Training Command, AVM Ahmed Dari, commended the CAS for personally honouring them with his presence.
The Commandant, Nigerian Air Force School of Air Intelligence, Air Commodore Adolphus Akins, said that 30 officers graduated from the eight-week course.
Akins said the course focused on four critical areas which include general service knowledge, security, operations, technical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance space. Sqn. Ldr. Elijah Ogabi, who spoke on behalf of the graduates, promised to deploy the knowledge for the service of the country.