Air Force Explains Why Chief Of Air Staff Accompanied President Tinubu To Turkey

• The Nigerian Air Force says President Tinubu’s visit to Türkiye, alongside the Chief of Air Staff and Defence Minister, aims to strengthen defence cooperation.
• The visit resulted in nine MoUs and engagements with major Turkish defence firms to improve Nigeria’s security capabilities.

The Nigerian Air Force has explained that the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday, accompanied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, to Türkiye as part of ongoing efforts to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges.

In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the high-level working visit to Ankara underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence posture, deepening international partnerships, and accelerating defence modernisation.

According to the statement, President Tinubu held bilateral talks with the Turkish President, which focused on converting shared interests into concrete outcomes. The engagements led to the signing of nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering defence, trade, education, media, technology, and other sectors.

The Nigerian Air Force said the agreements would improve Nigeria’s access to advanced technologies, promote skills transfer, and support long-term national security and development goals.

Speaking on the visit, Defence Minister Christopher Gwabin Musa stated that the engagements reflected the President’s determination to confront terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and other security threats. He noted that the administration is committed to equipping the Armed Forces with the right partnerships, capabilities, and technologies to improve operational effectiveness.

As part of defence cooperation, the Chief of Air Staff and the Minister of Defence visited key Turkish defence companies, including ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and HAVELSAN. These visits allowed the Nigerian Air Force to review existing procurement arrangements, enhance training opportunities, improve maintenance and sustainment support, and strengthen indigenous capacity building within the Armed Forces of Nigeria.