By George Ozalla
Newly confirmed Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has pledged to lead a versatile, disciplined, and intelligent Nigerian Air Force (NAF) capable of keeping insurgents “running without time to think or plan.” Speaking with conviction during his Senate confirmation on 29 October 2025, AVM Aneke declared, “I use the word lethal in a professional sense, because a man running from you will not have the time to plan to hurt you.”
He outlined his leadership vision as anchored on training, technology, safety, and strategic innovation, emphasizing that “true military power is not measured by brute force but by superior intellect and adaptability.” His confirmation by the National Assembly followed his nomination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which empowers the President to appoint Service Chiefs subject to legislative approval.
Lawmakers commended Aneke’s operational depth and strategic insight, noting his record as Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, where he enhanced strategic airlift capability, strengthened joint operations, and improved the NAF’s responsiveness in complex security environments. His efforts in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) were also lauded for bolstering Nigeria’s counter-insurgency and internal security framework.
AVM Aneke’s confirmation represents both a constitutional affirmation of civilian oversight in military leadership and a strategic endorsement of the Air Force’s modernization drive. A graduate of the United States Air War College, Montgomery, Alabama, he holds advanced degrees in Strategic Studies, International Affairs and Diplomacy, and Political Economy and Development Studies. With over 4,300 flight hours on various aircraft types, he is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished aviators and strategic minds.
As he assumes command, the new Air Chief reaffirmed his commitment to building an Air Force that is swift in action, precise in strike, and intelligent in execution — a force, he said, defined by purpose, professionalism, and national pride.
