The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has credited Nigeria’s security achievements to collective effort, stressing that no single individual or service can secure the nation alone.
Musa made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja during the decoration ceremony for newly promoted Air Vice Marshals and Air Commodores of the Nigerian Air Force.
He encouraged the officers to view every promotion as “an opportunity to make a difference.”
The minister noted that expectations on the officers remained high, emphasizing that they possessed the clarity of vision and judgment needed to strengthen ongoing military operations.
“Our strategic direction gives us the pathway to finish missions that have lingered. Through timely air intervention, precision engagement, technology, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, we have achieved notable gains in multiple theatres,” he said.
Musa commended the service chiefs and troops for their sacrifices, highlighting inter-service cooperation as the backbone of recent operational successes.
“No single individual or service can do this alone. Unity of effort, effective intelligence sharing and joint operations are central to sustaining our momentum,” he added.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for his consistent support to the Armed Forces, noting that it had enabled the military to make progress in safeguarding national security.
The minister assured officers that the nation’s promotion system remained fair and balanced, stressing that every Nigerian officer was considered important. “We must think of ourselves as one big family, living in different rooms but under the same roof. What affects one affects all,” he said.
Musa encouraged those not promoted to remain committed, assuring them that their time would come. He further urged officers to strengthen unity, resilience, and dedication to a shared national vision, insisting that “defeat is temporary, but victory is permanent” when the military stands together.
Earlier, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, urged the newly decorated senior officers to uphold the highest standards of integrity, discipline, and strategic leadership.
Aneke described their promotion to AVM and Air Commodore as a strong vote of confidence in their professionalism and ability to shoulder greater responsibilities.
According to him, military promotions are earned through dedication, competence, and character, with each new rank requiring higher trust, deeper responsibility, and the courage to make tough decisions.
“Your new rank places you at the strategic level where policy direction meets operational reality. You are now directly responsible for shaping strategy, guiding operations, making critical decisions and ensuring optimal performance across commands, units and personnel under your authority.
“As you take on these heightened responsibilities, always remember that victory in modern conflict does not rest solely on platforms or weapon systems, but on the quality of leadership at every level—most especially at the senior command tier,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the newly decorated officers, AVM Akin Adebomehin attributed their elevation to the unwavering grace of God and the confidence placed in senior officers by President Bola Tinubu.
Adebomehin, an Associate Professor of Computing, Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence, said the new ranks came with renewed commitment to safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity, uphold the Constitution, and protect citizens with dedication.
He also commended the Defence Council, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of State for Defence, and other key stakeholders for facilitating the promotion process.
He praised the Chief of the Air Staff for providing purposeful leadership anchored on agility, innovation, and precision in mission execution.
According to him, the newly promoted senior officers remain fully committed to delivering on their duties and justifying the confidence of the nation’s political and military leadership.
