The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday graduated 78 personnel from the Nigerian Air Force School of Air Intelligence (NAFSAINT), Makurdi, to boost its operational capabilities and sharpen the nation’s fight against insecurity.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday graduated 78 personnel from the Nigerian Air Force School of Air Intelligence (NAFSAINT), Makurdi, to boost its operational capabilities and sharpen the nation’s fight against insecurity.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Chief of Air Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Dalhat Ladan, charged the newly trained officers to be dedicated, precise, and courageous in gathering and analysing intelligence vital to national defence.
He said the courses were crucial to NAF’s objective of developing highly skilled middle-level personnel capable of delivering actionable intelligence to confront evolving national security challenges.
“This graduation signifies not just the end of rigorous training, but also the renewal of our shared commitment to safety, stability, and national security,” Ladan stated.
He noted that the training aligned with the Chief of Air Staff’s (CAS) command philosophy — “to transform the Nigerian Air Force into an agile and resilient force capable of meeting the airpower demands of national security in all operational environments.”
According to him, “Intelligence as a trade and craft is not for the faint-hearted. It demands patience, precision, courage, and integrity. The responsibility placed upon intelligence personnel is immense — to safeguard NAF assets and documents, and to provide timely, accurate, and comprehensive intelligence for effective operations.”
Ladan emphasised that with modern threats ranging from terrorism and insurgency to cyberattacks and disinformation, intelligence remains the first line of defence.
“Only through timely, accurate, and actionable intelligence can governments prevent crises, protect citizens, and preserve sovereignty,” he said.
He lauded the CAS, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, for his steadfast commitment to sustaining the air intelligence space and strengthening NAF’s critical airpower capabilities.
The Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the NAF Training Command, AVM Abubakar Abdullahi, also commended the graduands for their resilience, noting that their expertise would significantly enhance NAF’s intelligence-driven operations.
He urged them to be worthy ambassadors of NAFSAINT and uphold the institution’s values of professionalism and discipline.
Earlier, the Commandant of NAFSAINT, Air Commodore Adolphus Akins, revealed that the graduands completed the Advanced Intelligence Course 22/2025, Intermediate Intelligence Course 23/2025, and Basic Intelligence Course 33/2025.
He disclosed that while the basic and intermediate courses lasted 16 weeks, the advanced course lasted 12 weeks, with 78 out of 87 participants successfully completing the training.
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to the best graduating students and special guests.