The newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke, on Thursday formally assumed office with a pledge of unwavering loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and a commitment to prioritise the welfare of officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.
Aneke, the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, took over from his predecessor during a ceremony held at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja.
In his inaugural address, the new CAS described his appointment as a call to national duty and expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him.
“My appointment as the Twenty-Third Chief of the Air Staff is both an honour and a humbling experience. I wish to specially thank the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the honour and rare privilege extended to me to serve Nigeria,” he said.
He pledged his loyalty and that of the entire Air Force personnel to the President, the Federal Government and Nigerians.
“I also pledge my loyalty and that of the Nigerian Air Force officers, airmen and airwomen to the government and people of Nigeria as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution,” Aneke stated.
The new Air Chief vowed to sustain and build on the achievements of his predecessor, particularly in ongoing operations against insurgency and other internal security threats.
He assured that the NAF would continue to work with other military and security agencies to strengthen national security.
“Together, we will leave no stone unturned in discharging our constitutional roles in conjunction with other sister services, security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies to bring about swift improvement in the security situation of Nigeria,” he added.
Aneke also promised that personnel welfare would be a central priority under his leadership, noting that a motivated force is essential to achieving operational efficiency.
“I promise to ensure that the welfare needs of all officers, airmen, airwomen and their family members are promptly addressed to motivate them for improved productivity,” he said.
While acknowledging the support given to his predecessor, Aneke appealed to the National Assembly to continue its collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, describing legislative backing as vital to the success of ongoing security operations.
He thanked personnel of the Air Force for their congratulatory messages following his appointment and expressed appreciation to his family, especially his wife, for their support throughout his military career.
The ceremony was attended by senior military officers, heads of formations, directors, and representatives of security agencies.
Aneke concluded his remarks by restating his commitment to defend the nation:
“The Nigerian Air Force is willing, able and ready to meet the demands of our national defence and security imperatives.”
Speaking, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, described his tenure as an honour and privilege, noting that the Air Force made significant gains in counter-terrorism and internal security operations during his stewardship.
He charged his successor to prioritise national security, sustain a combat-ready force and take care of personnel welfare.
“No matter how advanced our platforms are, it is the human being behind the machine who delivers airpower,” he said.
PUNCH Online reports that Tinubu recently last week appointed Aneke as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, replacing his predecessor Abubakar.
His assumption of office comes at a pivotal time when public expectations are high.
