By Joy Odor, Abuja
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken another giant leap in its transformation drive with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Headquarters Annex Complex in Gudu, Abuja, a project hailed as a game-changer in military administration and national defence readiness.
The facility, inaugurated on Monday, 6 October 2025, marks a bold step by the NAF to decongest its overstretched Headquarters in Garki, boost operational efficiency, and create a more conducive environment for personnel productivity and welfare.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Defence, Dr. Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (mni), commended the vision and foresight of the NAF leadership, describing the project as “a reflection of resilience, innovation, and institutional excellence.”
“This Annex is a reflection of the Air Force’s habit of excellence and foresight,” the Minister declared. “It is an infrastructure that mirrors the NAF’s transformation into a modern, adaptive and forward-looking force.”
Dr. Abubakar noted that since its establishment in 1964, the NAF has evolved into a major component of Nigeria’s defence architecture, expanding its reach, responsibilities, and technological capabilities.
The creation of the new Annex, he said, was not just about space but about strategic reorganisation for greater efficiency and impact.
Key administrative branches, including the Air Secretary, Standards and Evaluation, Transformation and Innovation, and the 051 Personnel Management Group will now operate from the new complex.
The move is expected to improve workflow and strengthen inter-departmental coordination at the highest levels of command.
In his remarks, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, said the new facility was purposefully acquired and remodelled to enhance coordination and staff welfare.
He emphasized that the project embodies his Command Philosophy of maintaining a “highly motivated force through welfare and infrastructural renewal.”
“The commissioning of the HQ NAF Annex stands as a testament to our dynamism, resilience, and forward-looking posture,” the Air Chief said. “It reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, efficiency, and the well-being of our personnel.”
Both the Defence Minister and the Air Chief expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose support and defence sector reforms made the project possible.
Earlier, the Chief of Administration, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sani, described the commissioning as a landmark in the NAF’s transformational journey “not just the opening of a building, but the birth of a new chapter in the Service’s institutional evolution.”
The event drew an impressive array of dignitaries, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; other Service Chiefs; Senator Augustine Akobundu, Acting Chairman, Senate Committee on Air Force; and Honourable Kabiru Al-Hassan Rurum, Chairman, House Committee on Air Force, among others.
The Defence Minister later performed the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, dedicating the new Headquarters Annex to the “glory of God and the service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
