Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its newly activated Army Aviation Wing have received a significant boost following the graduation of 25 personnel from a specialised Aviation Fuel Handling and Management Course at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Kaduna.
The graduating class, comprising five officers and 20 soldiers, completed a 12-week intensive training programme under AFIT’s Department of Logistics Management. The course was designed to equip the personnel with practical skills in aviation fuel supply chain management, including bowser operations, fuel dispensing, calibration, and aviation safety protocols. The training is part of a strategic initiative to build internal technical capacity within the Nigerian Army as it enhances the operational readiness of its Air Wing, which was recently reactivated to improve mobility, surveillance, and tactical support.
Representing the Commander of the Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport (NACST), Major General AA Adeyinka, Brigadier General PAJ Ebuk praised the trainees for their discipline and commitment, noting that the task of managing bulk fuel supply falls squarely under NACST’s mandate. He described the successful completion of the course, which initially appeared logistically daunting, as a testament to inter-service cooperation and institutional resilience. “This course once seemed nearly impossible. But today’s graduation shows what is achievable through determination and collaboration. Poor handling of aviation fuel can be catastrophic, so this training marks a critical milestone,” he said.
He extended gratitude to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar, for granting a tuition waiver that allowed the trainees to complete the programme at no cost, and thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, for initiating and approving the training.
Representing AFIT’s Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Sani Labaran Rabe, the Commander of the 431 Engineering Group, Air Commodore AT Mohammed, stated that the course aligns with the Chief of the Air Staff’s vision of deepening synergy across the military. He noted that AFIT, as Nigeria’s only tripartite defence training institution, is committed to supporting the technical needs of both civilian and military aviation sectors. Earlier, the Director of the Centre for Technical and Vocational Training, Group Captain OG Alabi, described the course as more than academic. “This training tested their discipline, attention to detail, and ability to function under pressure — all critical traits in aviation fuel handling,” he said.
Lieutenant OE Bekwele emerged as the best graduating officer, while Corporal C. Iyamah received the award for best graduating soldier. As Nigeria’s defence architecture evolves to address complex security challenges, the graduation of these aviation fuel specialists signals a key step toward building a self-reliant and integrated air mobility force within the Army.
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