The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, voiced concerns over Nigeria’s heavy reliance on foreign countries for aircraft and spare parts, emphasizing the critical need to develop local manufacturing capabilities to support the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) operational needs. Abubakar made these remarks on Tuesday at the 2024 NAF Research and Development Retreat in Abuja.
Drawing from his experience as the former Commander of the 101 Presidential Air Fleet, Abubakar highlighted the operational challenges associated with the dependence on imported aircraft parts and maintenance equipment. “Our high dependency on imported aircraft spares imposes serious constraints on sustaining flight operations,” he stated. He stressed that local capacity building in aircraft manufacturing and spare parts production through focused Research and Development (R&D) is essential to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.
Looking ahead, Abubakar announced that the Nigerian Air Force is preparing to sustain a fleet expansion, with 50 new aircraft expected to join by 2026. To support this growth, NAF is working to build robust local capacity for both operation and maintenance. “By developing indigenous capabilities, we can lessen our reliance on foreign military products,” he said.
The Air Marshal also highlighted ongoing advancements within NAF, including the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and rocket launchers. He mentioned the revival of the TSAIGUMI UAV project in collaboration with UAVision of Portugal, now at an advanced stage. Additionally, NAF has established a strategic partnership with Zenith Prom of Serbia for technology transfer to locally produce 57mm rockets.
In a move to institutionalize research efforts, NAF has recently upgraded the Air Force Research and Development Centre to an institute, aimed at enhancing capacity for high-level research and securing additional funding. Abubakar noted that the focus of NAF’s R&D is not solely on hardware but also on software development. In May, NAF implemented a custom-built digital correspondence system known as the ‘Paperless System,’ streamlining communication within the force.
These initiatives underscore NAF’s commitment to self-sufficiency through indigenous development, aiming to reduce foreign dependency and build a sustainable infrastructure to meet Nigeria’s defense needs.
