Lagos: The Governor of Imo, Mr. Hope Uzodinma, has called for a more strategic integration of African air assets into a collective security framework to better address emerging trans-border threats. Uzodinma made these remarks during the closing ceremony of the Fourth African Air Forces Forum held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the governor emphasized that air power is one of the most versatile tools of modern defense, providing advantages in speed, reach, data, and intelligence superiority. He highlighted the complex nature of trans-boundary threats across Africa, ranging from terrorism to cyber incursions, and asserted the need for precise and collaborative responses. Uzodinma pointed out that while African nations have built impressive air capabilities, such as Egypt with over 1,000 aircraft and Algeria with more than 600, these numbers alone are insufficient. He advocated for a smarter integration of air assets into a collective security architecture.

The governor underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing security threats, citing the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) established by the Lake Chad Commission as an exemplary model. He noted that the joint operations of Nigeria, Republic of Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger have yielded significant gains in securing their regions, including neutralizing terrorist strongholds and enabling safe resettlement of communities.

Uzodinma also stressed the need for improved operational interoperability and shared logistics among African nations, suggesting that these issues should be addressed through practical mechanisms rather than theoretical models. He acknowledged Africa’s dependence on external suppliers for critical aerospace and defense needs but highlighted ongoing local developments, such as the Nigerian Defence Industry Corporation’s production of small arms and South Africa’s doubling of defense exports since 2020.

The governor further mentioned that significant investments have been made to enhance defense architectures across the continent, including over $25 billion in Algeria, $13.4 billion in Morocco, and $3.1 billion in Nigeria. He urged that these investments be aligned with goals such as technology transfer, indigenous innovation, and world-class development, drawing lessons from the aerospace progress observed in South Africa and Morocco.

Uzodinma commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) leadership for adopting a self-reliant approach by renovating abandoned aircraft, deploying fully developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and incorporating academic research into national planning. He praised Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff, for his innovative contributions and called for the establishment of an African aerospace doctrine governed by shared standards and political commitments.