All you need to know about the Nigerian Air Force: History, Command Structure, past and present Service Chiefs

All you need to know about the Nigerian Air Force: History, Command Structure, past and present Service Chiefs

History

According to Nigerian Air Force (NAF) sources, the idea of establishing an air force in Nigeria was first mooted in 1961 following the country's participation in peace-keeping operations in Congo and Tanganyika (now Tanzania). During these peace-keeping operations, foreign air forces aircraft were employed to airlift the Nigerian Army Regiment to and from the theatres of operation. The then Nigerian Government recognising the urgent need to establish an air force, in 1962, agreed in principle that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) be established.

The Nigerian Parliament, subsequently approved the establishment of the NAF and recruitment of cadets commenced in June 1962 and the NAF was officially established by a statutory Act of Parliament in April 1964 to serve four main purposes namely:

            a.       To achieve a full complement of the military defence system of the Federal Republic of

            Nigeria both in the air and on the ground.

            b.       To ensure a fast versatile mobility of the Armed Forces.

            c.       To provide close support for the ground-based and sea borne forces in all phases of

            operations and to ensure the territorial integrity of a united Nigeria.

            d.       To give the country the deserved prestige that is invaluable in international matters.

The first batch of 10 cadets was enlisted in 1962 to undergo training with the Ethiopian Air Force. The second set of 16 cadets was enlisted in February 1963 to undergo training with the Royal Canadian Air Force while six cadets were sent to the Indian Air Force. The stage was thus set for the training of its personnel in the country. Consequently, several countries were approached but the lot fell on the German Air Force to provide technical assistance for the local training of NAF personnel and this materialized in 1963.

More combat aircraft such as MIG 15 and 17 (mostly flown by Egyptian pilots) were acquired by NAF during the 3 year Biafra-Nigeria War. The NAF committed several documented war crimes against Biafran civilian population, which no one has yet to be tried.

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Additional aircraft types were acquired by the NAF between 1981 and 1990. 

Headquarters

The Nigerian Air Force Headquarters comprises of seven staff branches which formulate policies including: Policy and Plans, Training and Operations, Aircraft Engineering, Logistics and Communications, Administration, Standards and Evaluations and Air Secretary. Each Staff Branch is headed by a Branch Chief who is directly responsible to the Chief of Air Staff. The Branch Chiefs are assisted by several directors and staff officers. The office of the Chief of Air Staff is structured to include the Coordinator Project Implementation and Monitoring Team, Finance & Account, and the Nigerian Air Force Procurement and Plans.

The Policy and Plans Branch is responsible for the formation, development and implementation of strategic policies and plans in the Nigerian Air Force. The Branch also prepares in close consultation with other air staff branches and commands, long-range plans and policies to support timely, accurate and efficient employment of air power under the direction of the Chief of Air Staff to meet NAF mission.

The Training and Operations Branch is responsible for policies and directives for the daily operations of the NAF. The branch is also responsible for all training both on ground and aircrew duties. 

The Aircraft Engineering Branch is responsible for all matters relating to aircraft, armament design and maintenance in the NAF.The Logistics and Communications Staff Branch is responsible for policies on provisioning, procurement and maintenance of all equipment and infrastructure in the NAF. 

The Administration Staff Branch is the hub in which most of NAF personnel and administrative matters revolve. It also sees to the running of the NAF in accordance with operational policy guidelines and requirements. The Standards and Evaluation Staff Branch is also charged with the responsibility of ensuring proper maintenance of standards in the NAF and to facilitate full-time research into specific areas of the Service with a view to avoiding waste in both human and material resources. 

The Air Secretary Branch is responsible for the establishment of guidelines for the recruitment, career management and maintenance of a balanced force structure for the NAF.

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Commands

The Nigerian Air Force is currently made up of four Commands namely: Tactical Air Command with headquarters in Makurdi, Mobility Command with Headquarters in Yenagoa, Training Command with headquarters in Kaduna and Logistics Command with headquarters in Lagos. 

The Tactical Air Command was established for the purpose of centralization of Command with a view to providing joint operational doctrine for the use of NAF air tactical forces. 

The Mobility Command is responsible for performing the air power role of tactical and strategic airlift in support of military operations and government.  

The Training Command was established for the purpose of planning and coordinating the administrative and operational command of all NAF training activities, while the Logistics Command was established to supply and maintain all the NAF operational equipment as well as infrastructural facilities required for the effective accomplishment of NAF assigned tasks.

In addition to the four major commands, are some other formations which are directly answerable to HQ NAF: Nigerian Air Force Holdings Company comprising of the Aeronautical Engineering and Technical Services Limited,  Nigerian Air Force Post-Service Housing Development Limited, Nigerian Air Force Investment Limited, and Nigerian Air Force Properties Limited. others are, the Pay and Accounting Group, the Personnel Management Group and the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Weapons

The NAF is equipped with various aircraft types including F-7Ni, ATR-42 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and the Agusta Helicopter.

Service Chiefs

From its inception to date, the NAF has had 17 administrations listed below:

Colonel G Kahtz (GAF)
1963 - 1965

Colonel W Timming (GAF) (1965-1966)

Brigadier General GT Kurubo (1966-1967)

Colonel Shittu A Alao (1967-1969)

Brigadier Emmanuel E Ikwue(1969-1975)

AIR VICE MARSHAL JN YISA-DOKO (1975-1980)

AIR VICE MARSHAL AD BELLO (1980 – 1983)

AIR MARSHAL IBRAHIM M ALFA (1984 – 1990)

AIR MARSHAL NURAINI O YUSSUFF (1990 – 1992)

AIR MARSHAL AKIN DADA (1992 – 1993)

AIR VICE MARSHAL FEMI JOHN FEMI (1993 –1996)

AIR MARSHAL NSIKAK E EDUOK (1996 – 1999)

AIR MARSHAL ISAAC M ALFA (1999 – 2001)

AIR MARSHAL JD WUYEP (2001-2005)

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL PAUL DIKE (2005-2008)

Air Marshal Oluseyi Olusegun Petinrin (2008 - 2010)

AIR MARSHAL MD UMAR(2010 - 2012)

Air Marshal AS Badeh (2012-2014)