Regional Security at Risk: NAF Chief Sounds Alarm on Troop Withdrawal from Mali, Niger

• The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has sounded the alarm on the grave security threats facing Nigeria and the entire Sahel Region.

While addressing a gathering of top officials at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters in Abuja, Abubakar emphasized that the withdrawal of United Nations forces and Chadian troops from Mali, as well as the pullout of Nigerien troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), has created a power vacuum that imperils regional security.

The Air Marshal also expressed concern over the recent surge in military coups in the West African sub-region and the withdrawal of some countries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which he believes has undermined the region’s collective security architecture. These developments, Abubakar noted, have led to an influx of weapons and terrorists into Nigeria, exacerbating the country’s security challenges.

Against this backdrop, the Air Marshal stressed the need for the NAF and other security agencies to be proactive and intensify their efforts to meet the Federal Government’s and Nigerian citizens’ expectations for a peaceful, safe, and secure nation. Despite the daunting threats, Abubakar revealed that the NAF has re-strategized and adopted new air power measures in the past 12 months, leading to significant progress in various operational areas, including the fight against insurgency, terrorism, banditry, and oil theft.

However, the Air Marshal acknowledged that the prevailing economic challenges, including high youth unemployment, rising inflation, and multidimensional poverty, have worsened the security situation, necessitating continuous adaptation and improvement by the NAF. Abubakar commended the efforts of NAF personnel and expressed gratitude for their support since he assumed office, noting that the force has achieved modest yet significant progress in fighting various criminal activities in the country.

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The meeting, which aimed to reassess the NAF’s objectives and key enablers, also provided an opportunity for the Air Marshal to thank his personnel for their efforts and sacrifices over the past year.

He urged them to continue working tirelessly to ensure the actualization of a peaceful and secure Nigeria, where prosperity can thrive.

In a statement, NAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet quoted the Air Marshal as emphasizing the need for proactive measures to address the security threats facing the nation. The meeting was attended by Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, Directors, Commandants, and Commanders, who all reaffirmed their commitment to the NAF’s mission and the country’s security.