The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Sunday, February 8th, announced plans to retrieve service weapons issued to its officers upon their retirement.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, disclosed this during the 2026 CAS parley with veterans held at the NAF base along Bill Clinton drive, airport road, Abuja.
He was represented by the chief of administration, Anthony Adekunle Martins, who said the initiative is part of a new framework aimed at strengthening accountability, enhancing operational discipline, and preventing the unauthorized circulation of firearms.
The policy, which will be implemented in line with existing military regulations and the firearms act, is designed to ensure that all weapons issued during active service are properly documented and returned at the end of an officer’s career.
Aneke said the move was necessary to reinforce institutional standards while safeguarding national security.
He acknowledged the personal security concerns of retired senior officers, noting that the NAF remains sensitive to their welfare.
Aneke explained that accountability mechanisms were being developed to guide the retrieval process where applicable, adding that the NAF was also exploring the establishment of a regulated armoury system that would allow eligible retired personnel to lawfully possess approved calibres, subject to extant regulations.
The CAS described veteran administration as capital-intensive but stressed that the air force values the experience and input of its retired officers, including insights drawn from international best practices such as the Australian model.
As part of broader welfare initiatives, Aneke revealed plans to establish dedicated veteran well-being centres to provide specialised healthcare services, administrative support, help-desk assistance, and social engagement platforms tailored to retired officers.
He added that the NAF is deploying digital solutions to improve service delivery to veterans, with an online platform under development to simplify processes such as next-of-kin updates, medical referrals, and welfare documentation, thereby reducing delays associated with manual systems.
Comments