The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has disclosed that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, accompanied President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, to Turkey as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, banditry, insurgency and other asymmetric threats.
The Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, made this known in a statement, noting that the high-level working visit to Ankara underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to boosting Nigeria’s defence capacity, strengthening international partnerships and advancing defence modernisation.
According to the statement, President Tinubu held bilateral discussions with his Turkish counterpart, which culminated in the signing of nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering defence, trade, education, media, technology and related sectors.
Ejodame explained that the agreements are expected to enhance Nigeria’s access to advanced technologies, promote skills transfer and establish institutional frameworks aimed at strengthening national security and development.
Speaking on the visit, the Minister of Defence, General Musa, said the engagements reflect the administration’s determination to tackle security challenges confronting the country.
He stated that the government remains committed to equipping the Armed Forces with the capabilities, partnerships and technologies required to combat terrorism, banditry and other threats to national stability.
As part of defence and air power cooperation, the Chief of Air Staff and the Defence Minister visited major Turkish defence firms, including ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and HAVELSAN, which operate under Türkiye’s defence industry secretariat.
The NAF said the visit enabled it to review existing procurement arrangements, with focus on improving acquisition programmes, strengthening maintenance and sustainment support, expanding training opportunities, advancing research and development, and enhancing indigenous capacity for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
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