By SUMAILA OGBAJE

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar, says the recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali from ECOWAS has placed more burden on the Nigerian military.

Abubakar said this at the opening of the First Quarter Meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding and Commanders on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) from the existing security frameworks had disrupted the existing security frameworks in the region.

According to him, this development has direct implications for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which plays a crucial role in countering Boko Haram and ISWAP across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

?With AES member states opting out and Chad considering withdrawal, the MNJTF?s capacity to conduct joint operations is now significantly affected.

?As a result, the burden on the Armed Forces of Nigeria to support the MNJTF will increase, demanding a more robust, agile, and adaptive response from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

?Strengthening operational readiness, enhancing inter-agency coordination, and leveraging advanced air power will be critical in mitigating these evolving threats as we progress through 2025,? he said.

The CAS said that the Sahel region had continued to be a hotspot for terrorism and insurgency, with Al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist groups exploiting weak governance structures to expand their influence.

He added that the porous borders in the Lake Chad Basin, had also allowed the extremist elements to sustain their activities, posing a persistent threat to regional stability.

Abubakar said the Gulf of Guinea also remained vulnerable to maritime crimes, including piracy and illegal oil bunkering, necessitating sustained aerial surveillance and stronger regional cooperation to bolster maritime security.

According to him, addressing these challenges requires a unified approach, emphasising coordinated air operations, intelligence sharing, and strategic partnerships.

He said the meeting would provide a valuable opportunity for them to review the security landscape of Nigeria in 2024, critically assess their operational successes and challenges, and project actionable strategies for the NAF operations in 2025.

?As the senior leadership of the Nigerian Air Force, we shoulder the vital responsibility of ensuring the effective deployment of air power in support of national security objectives.

?I deeply appreciate your dedication and support so far, and I urge each of us to engage in today?s discussions with the utmost commitment, foresight, and resolve,? he added. (NAN)

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