The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar has attributed the power rivalry between the United States of America, Russia and China in Africa, as well as withdrawal of Niger Republic troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force aggravating security challenges in the Sahel Region, causing the influx of more weapons and terrorists into Nigeria.
Air Marshal Abubakar disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding and Directors as well as the entire senior leadership cadre of the Nigerian Air Force in Abuja.
Speaking at the meeting which coincides with his one year in office, Air Marshal Abubakar said the Russia-Ukraine War has constrained NAF from sourcing aircraft spares and maintenance of the Mi-series helicopters that are crucial in its counter-terrorism/counter insurgency operations.
“As Nigeria faces security challenges, the USA has provided support for the acquisition of aircraft and associated munitions for counterterrorism operations. Likewise, the Nigerian Air Force has acquired aircraft and munitions from China and Russia and continues to engage in military cooperation.
“Consequently, balancing these relationships is crucial for Nigeria’s security interests”.
He added the Hamas attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023 and the sporadic attacks by the Houthi rebels on shipping lines through the Red Sea have also shown “the devastating impact of non-state actors’ access to emerging technologies such as autonomous drones, satellite communications and Artificial intelligence”.
“We should thus be concerned that the actions of these non-state actors would be copied and replicated by other insurgents and terrorists in Nigeria,” Abubakar said.
He further stated that the upsurge in coup detat and the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have negative impacts on Nigeria’s collective regional security architecture.
He noted that the military juntas have turned to Russia for security assistance following the failure of ECOWAS to address jihadist violence in those countries.
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“Additionally, the withdrawals of UN troops from MINUSMA, 2000 Chadian troops from Mali,, as well as Niger Republic troops from the Multi-National Joint Task Force could aggravate the security challenges in the Sahel Region, causing the influx of more weapons and terrorists into Nigeria. Invariably, this situation militates against our counterinsurgency efforts.”
He warned, “Consequently, we would likely witness a continued growth in the pattern of threats I have previously highlighted. Hence, it is no gainsaying that we must be proactive and intensify our efforts to meet the Federal Government and Nigerian citizens’ expectations for an expeditious actualisation of a peaceful, safe and secure nation for prosperity to thrive”.
He, however, stated that the NAF in the last 12 months achieved modest, yet significant progress in fighting insurgency, terrorism, banditry, oil theft and other criminal activities in the country.
“Yet, there is so much more to do. The harsh economic realities -high rate of youth unemployment, increasing inflation and high multi-dimensional poverty have further aggravated the security situation in the country. Therefore, we must have this leadership meeting, to holistically review our performances and actions in the past 12 months in transforming the Nigerian Air Force to effectively meet the air power demands of Nigeria’s security,” he said.
