CAS Directs Oversight Of C-130H Maintenance In Portugal, Reaffirms Commitment To Safety And Readiness

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) unwavering commitment to aircraft safety, airworthiness and operational readiness by directing a high-level delegation to Portugal to assess the ongoing Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) of C-130H aircraft NAF 913.
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Led by the Chief of Aircraft Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Olufemi Samson Ogunsina, alongside the Commander, 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Air Commodore Eric Kpokpogri, the delegation engaged Messrs OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal on measures to facilitate the timely completion of the maintenance programme.

The visit also provided an opportunity to reassure the public regarding the status of the aircraft, which had earlier proceeded abroad for its scheduled depot-level maintenance, underscoring the NAF’s uncompromising commitment to safety, technical integrity and global best practices in aircraft maintenance.

During the visit, the delegation inspected ongoing maintenance activities and held strategic discussions with OGMA management on optimising timelines and sustaining progress towards the aircraft’s return to service. Recognising the strategic importance of the platform to national and regional airlift operations, both parties reviewed measures aimed at ensuring the successful completion of the maintenance programme.

The engagement further highlighted the strong partnership between the NAF and global aerospace stakeholders in sustaining critical air capabilities and enhancing the Service’s capacity to effectively support national security objectives.

Beyond the ongoing maintenance programme, the delegation explored broader areas of cooperation with OGMA and other industry partners in the areas of long-term fleet support, technical training, logistics and future sustainment requirements.

Discussions also examined opportunities for collaboration in emerging strategic airlift programmes, reflecting the NAF’s forward-looking approach to capability development. According to the CAS, “The safety of our personnel and the airworthiness of our platforms remain paramount. We will continue to strengthen our maintenance culture and strategic partnerships to ensure that the Nigerian Air Force remains a highly professional, mission-ready force capable of delivering decisive airpower in support of national security objectives.”

NAF in Portugal

The visit further demonstrates the NAF’s commitment to preserving critical airlift capabilities and inspiring public confidence in its professionalism, resilience and technical competence.
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NAF Deepens Strategic partnership With Ministry Of Women Affairs To Advance Women Empowerment And National Development

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting women empowerment, gender inclusion and sustainable national development through strategic partnerships and people-centred initiatives.
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This was underscored during a courtesy visit by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, to the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

Speaking during the engagement, the Chief of the Air Staff highlighted the vital role of women in nation-building, peacebuilding and socio-economic development, noting that the visit sought to strengthen collaboration in support of women and vulnerable groups across the country.

He reiterated the NAF’s commitment to impactful civil-military initiatives and to creating opportunities that enhance women’s participation in leadership, education, entrepreneurship and skills development. He further emphasised that strategic collaboration would enable targeted interventions for women in conflict-affected communities, strengthen advocacy against gender-based violence and build more resilient communities.

In her remarks, the Honourable Minister commended the NAF’s sustained contributions to peace, security and community development, as well as the people-centred leadership of the Chief of the Air Staff.

NAF, Ministry Of Women Affairs

She welcomed the proposed partnership and expressed the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate on initiatives aimed at empowering women, protecting vulnerable groups and advancing gender-responsive development.

Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to developing impactful programmes that will promote social inclusion, strengthen community resilience and contribute to sustainable national development.
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NiDCOM Boss Hails Australia’s 50 Years Of Culture

Culture, according to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is the bedrock upon which nations are built. The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) made this case on the strength of Australia’s example, commending the country for five decades of honouring its Indigenous peoples through NAIDOC Week.
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Speaking as special guest of honor,at a reception hosted by the Australian High Commission in Abuja to mark the 50th anniversary of the celebration, Dabiri-Erewa said she was honoured to stand alongside Australia in recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“As Chairman of NiDCOM, I come not just as a representative of the Nigerian Government, but as a sister from another part of the world that also understands the power of resilience, culture and community,” she said.

An exhibition on display at the event struck a personal chord. Dabiri-Erewa noted that many of the photographs reminded her of her own heritage, reflecting experiences shared by Indigenous communities the world over.

She pointed to the word “Deadly”, which in Aboriginal English means strong, proud and excellent, as capturing the true weight of the fifty year milestone being marked.

Australia, she said, had proven a simple truth: a nation that honours its roots strengthens its future.

“The way Australia has created space to celebrate First Nations culture, language and leadership is something we admire. It teaches us that nation building must include everyone and that the wisdom of First Peoples and ancestral communities is invaluable national capital,” she said.

Nigeria, home to more than 250 ethnic groups and a wealth of indigenous traditions, shares that same diversity, she added.

“Without culture, you are empty. When you lose your culture, you lose everything,” she said.

Turning to this year’s theme, Dabiri-Erewa said it spoke directly to the next generation, pointing to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals already making their mark in law, healthcare, technology, the arts and sports. She drew a parallel with young Nigerians in the diaspora, who continue to excel globally while holding fast to their cultural identity.

“Our responsibility as leaders is to clear the path for them to thrive,” she said.

The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leilani Bin Juda, also speaking at the event said the relationship between the two countries reaches beyond trade and diplomacy into shared values, cultural exchange and lasting people to people ties.

Diplomacy, she said, is conducted not only through governments and institutions but through culture, conversation and human connection.

“Nigeria and Australia are very different countries in many respects, but we share an understanding of the importance of culture, community and identity,” Bin Juda said.

Both nations, she noted, are shaped and enriched by remarkable diversity, with traditions, languages and histories that continue to define their national character. She added that Australia and Nigeria enjoy a warm and growing friendship, built on mutual respect, trade, investment and cooperation across several sectors.

Dabiri-Erewa

The reception included a screening of Gurrumul, an acclaimed Australian documentary on the life of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, the late Indigenous Australian singer songwriter who was born blind and remains Australia’s most commercially successful First Nations artist.

NAIDOC Week is an annual celebration of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with this year marking its 50th anniversary.

E-Signed.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun
Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM)
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