South African Air Force, and its counterpart from Nigeria reaffirmed commitment to entered strong alliance to fight terrorism in the African continent.
The Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Wiseman Simo Mbambo,who visited the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters in Abuja on 27 October 2025, marking a significant milestone in enhancing defence collaboration between the two countries.
This visit highlights their joint commitment to boosting regional security and counter-terrorism efforts through strengthened cooperation in technology, training, logistics, and aircraft maintenance.Lieutenant General Mbambo praised the Nigerian Air Force for its strides in modernising its fleet and building indigenous maintenance capabilities, expressing South Africa’s willingness to collaborate on joint training and technical exchange programs.
He emphasized the importance of developing homegrown technology to tackle Africa-specific security challenges and called for united efforts among African air forces to counter the growing threat posed by non-state actors gaining access to advanced military technology.
Air Vice Marshal IH Etukudo, representing Nigeria’s Chief of the Air Staff, welcomed the visit as a vital step toward deeper air power cooperation across Africa.
He affirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s dedication to forging strategic partnerships that enhance operational effectiveness and innovation, reinforcing the shared vision of a safer and more unified continent through collective defence and counter-terrorism collaboration.
Representing the Chief of the Air Staff, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal IH Etukudo, described the visit as a significant step in strengthening intra-African air power cooperation. He reiterated the NAF’s unwavering commitment to building strategic partnerships with friendly air forces across the continent, prioritising operational effectiveness, innovation, and capacity development.
The visit not only deepens bilateral ties between Nigeria and South Africa but also reinforces a shared vision of a safer, stronger, and more united Africa through air power diplomacy, counter-terrorism collaboration, and mutual defence cooperation.
