The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has strengthened its intelligence-led air operations with the graduation of a new batch of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) operators following the successful completion of the Operational Conversion Training (OCT) 4/2025 at the 233 Wing, 109 Combat Reconnaissance Group (CRG).
The graduation ceremony, held on Wednesday, represents a significant milestone in enhancing the NAF’s Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision support capabilities, particularly in support of ongoing counter-insurgency and internal security operations nationwide.
Patrick Obeya, air officer, Commanding Tactical Air Command (TAC), who represented, the Chief of Staff TAC, Garba Jibia, described the event at NAF Base, Kaduna as a symbolic transfer of responsibility to the newly qualified operators.
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He noted that the graduates are being entrusted with the critical task of projecting air power, delivering timely and actionable intelligence, and supporting joint operations in defence of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Jibia explained that the training aligns with the command philosophy of Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the Chief of the Air Staff, which emphasises standardised training and mission-focused capability development.
He stressed that continuous investment in training and human capacity development is essential to addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, particularly within the rapidly advancing RPA domain.
“In a fast-changing operational environment, only well-trained and disciplined personnel can deliver the precision, professionalism and accountability required for effective air operations,” he said, commending the quality and relevance of the training programme.
Earlier, Augustine Obute Idoko, the commander 109 CRG, revealed that the Group conducted over 315 missions and accumulated more than 1,800 flying hours in 2025 using available NAF unmanned aerial vehicles.
Idoko, a group captain, added that the newly graduated operators have further enhanced the Group’s capacity to sustain simultaneous UAV operations across all theatres, with additional training programmes scheduled to commence early next year.
The graduation underscores the NAF’s continued commitment to leveraging advanced technology and skilled manpower in support of national security objectives.
