NAF Deepens Air-Ground Integration in North-East Counter-Insurgency Operations
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has stepped up efforts to enhance its combat effectiveness in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East by taking airpower doctrine beyond the classroom and applying it directly on the battlefield through strengthened Air-Ground Integration (AGI).
This strategic shift was highlighted during an operational assessment visit by the Commandant of the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ibrahim Jibia, to the Headquarters of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in Maiduguri.
The visit underscored the NAF’s determination to ensure close alignment between doctrine, training and operational realities, with air assets playing a decisive role in intelligence gathering, surveillance, precision strikes and close air support in direct support of ground forces.
Interacting with frontline commanders and aircrew, AVM Jibia explained that the engagement was aimed at strengthening joint-force synergy, enhancing mission effectiveness and directly interfacing with personnel deployed in the theatre.
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He noted that the initiative aligns with the operational and command philosophy of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, which prioritises deliberate training, mission-focused force development and airmindedness.
According to AVM Jibia, effective AGI remains a critical enabler of airpower dominance, ensuring seamless coordination between air operations and ground manoeuvres to deliver decisive operational effects.
He described airmindedness as a professional culture that combines skill, discipline, adaptability and situational awareness, adding that the NAF will continue to expand joint training, deepen inter-service cooperation and promote integrated operational planning as essential elements of modern warfare.
The AWDC Commandant commended OPHK troops for their gallantry, resilience and notable operational successes, assuring them of sustained doctrinal and training support. He also pledged that operational concerns raised during briefings would be carefully reviewed to further enhance mission outcomes.
In his response, the Theatre Commander of OPHK, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, welcomed the visit and reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to adopting innovative doctrinal inputs, particularly in AGI and integrated exercises.
For the NAF, the visit sent a clear message: airpower doctrine is no longer confined to manuals and classrooms but is being tested, refined and decisively applied at the heart of the fight to restore lasting peace and stability in Nigeria’s North-East.