In a bold move to enhance operational efficiency and self-reliance, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully reconfigured four pre-owned fuel tankers into specialised aircraft refuelling bowsers.
This development was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information for the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame. He noted that the reconfiguration project was carried out under the supervision of the 643 Equipment Supply Depot in Lagos.
Ejodame described the initiative as a reflection of the Chief of the Air Staff’s (CAS) commitment to proactive logistics support, an entrenched maintenance culture, and a strategic embrace of innovation and resourcefulness across the Service.
Quoting the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, Ejodame said: “These reconfigured bowsers represent more than just fuel on wheels, they embody our drive for self-reliance and operational adaptability. In an era where speed and sustainability of logistics are critical to mission success, the NAF cannot afford to be reactive. We must anticipate, adapt, and innovate.”
According to the NAF spokesman, the newly modified bowsers are poised to play a vital role in sustaining air operations, especially in counterterrorism missions and joint force deployments across the country.
He explained that by ensuring rapid and reliable aircraft refuelling, the NAF aims to bolster persistent air presence, shorten turnaround times, and deliver decisive outcomes in high-stakes operational theatres.
Ejodame further stated that the CAS believes that asymmetric threats require agile and sustained responses, adding that logistics must no longer be considered a backend operation but a critical frontline enabler of combat power.
Already, one of the reconfigured refuelling units has been deployed to the 407 Air Combat Training Group in Kainji, with the remaining three set to be distributed to other strategic locations across the country.
The deployment, Ejodame said, is expected to significantly improve the NAF’s operational readiness and reaffirms the Service’s unwavering commitment to national security and the protection of all Nigerians.
