The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), said it is set to partner with the Spanish Government in the areas of platform acquisition, training, air operations, intelligence sharing and capacity development in imagery analysis.

Director of Public Relations & Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet in a statement said the partnership is part of Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), effort to boost counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations in Nigeria.

Air Commodore Gabkwet said the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, made the disclosure while, hosting the Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Juan Ignacio Sell at the Headquarters NAF, Abuja.

The CAS noted that developing bilateral and multilateral partnership when the Nation is faced with myriad of security challenges has become expedient due to the global nature of terrorism and its attendant negative impact on the citizenry.
This, he said, has led to population dislocations especially in Northeast and Northwest Nigeria which has been exacerbated by forced migration and socio-economic upheavals.

He noted that a partnership with a developed nation like Spain would enable the NAF take advantage of the numerous technological competencies available to address some of the technical challenges the Service currently faces especially in intelligence gathering.
Air Marshal Amao said the NAF and Airbus of Spain were currently in talks to explore opportunities that could be available for the NAF to tap into, all with the hope of enhancing NAF’s aircraft holding.

“If our interface with Airbus of Spain is anything to go by, I am hopeful that the outcome would go a long way in adding value to our current efforts in all our theatres of operation”, he said.

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Earlier, His Excellency, Juan Ignacio Sell, noted that his visit to HQ NAF, which is the first to any of the Services since assuming office in December 2021, is indicative of the high regard and respect he has for the NAF in view of the critical role it plays in keeping all Nigerians and residents of Nigeria safe.

He disclosed that his country was willing to provide bespoke solutions that would support the various operations of the NAF.

Mr Jaun also expressed his Country’s preparedness to further deepen partnership with the NAF by posting a Defence Attaché to the Spanish Embassy in Abuja to enhance bilateral interface in terms of defence and security collaborations.