Do you have an interest or desire in working with the Nigerian military? In national security? – and you just love aircrafts? Then feel free to join the Nigerian Airforce. We will give you details about the NAF, and how you can enlist as a member of the Nigerian Airforce.
Nigerian Airforce: The Mission
The Nigerian Airforce (NAF) is an important arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces, whose duty is to perform airborne operations in support of any and all national security operations demanded by the Nigerian military; as well as maintaining the ‘integrity’ of the Nigerian airspace. In simple language, any military operations that require flying military aircraft and guarding the Nigerian airspace from any internal or external threat, are under the command of the Nigerian Airforce. They also perform search and rescue operations on both land and sea where the use of aircrafts is critically needed.
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Nigerian Airforce (NAF): A brief history
The Nigerian Airforce was created out of necessity by an official Act established by the then Nigerian Parliament, passed in April 1964 – though it was first approved in 1961 following Nigeria’s participation in peace-keeping operations in Tanzania and Congo. It became clear that an airborne security unit was needed to airlift Nigerian soldiers and their supplies to and from different locations both on land and on sea. Recruitment of airforce cadets began in 1962.
The Nigerian government entered into a major agreement with Western Germany (with some assistance from Britain, Canada, USA, India and Ethiopia) to train the country’s airforce personnel, and provide equipment, aircraft, supplies, construction and maintenance services. The events of the Nigerian Civil war brought rapid development to the Nigerian Airforce as the first combatant aircrafts were bought, and has continued to acquire more aircrafts. Needless to say, there is still so much room for improvement in training, maintenance, communications and equipment deployment operations of the NAF.
The Nigerian Airforce is controlled overall by the Chief of Air Staff whose office is at the NAF Service Headquarters, under which there are:
- 6 staff branches (Policy & Plans branch, Logistics branch, Administrations branch, Operations branch, Air Secretary branch, Inspections branch)
- 4 Direct Reporting Units, and
- 4 Operational Commands (NAF Tactical Air Command Markudi; NAF Training Command Kaduna; NAF Logistics Command Ikeja; and NAF Mobility Command Yenagoa)
The Nigerian Airforce also has at least 17 operational bases, several aircraft and helicopters around the country. The NAF is also reputed to be one of the largest airforce personnel in Africa to date.
Nigerian Airforce recruitment: Basic requirements
The Nigerian Airforce welcomes all able-bodied men and women to join its workforce every year, and the registration is absolutely free. Registration of candidates is to be carried out on the NAF official recruitment website, www.nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng.
For the current year, the registration exercise took place between 2nd of March 2022 and 26th of July 2022. Nevertheless, another recruitment window will be opened in the upcoming year; so please take note of the following guidelines in order to prepare you for the next batch of NAF recruitment.
Basic requirements to apply for enlistment in the Nigerian Airforce are as follows:
- You must be a Nigerian citizen by birth.
- You must be no less than 18 years of age within the current year of application. Take note of the following age categories:
- Applicants for non-trades men/women must be within the age range of 18 to 22 years;
- Applicants for trades men/women must be within the age range of 18 and 25 years;
- Applicants for assistant chaplains, assistant imams, and drivers must be within the age range of 18 and 28 years.
- You are expected to be single (not married).
- You must possess at least 5 credits (including English and Mathematics) in no more than two sittings in SSCE, GCE, NECO, NABTEB certificate for non-Trades men and women. For Trades men and women, you must possess National Diploma, NCE, City & Guilds or some other recognised trade test certificate; in addition to a minimum of 2 passes and credit in English in not more than 2 sittings in WAEC, GCE, NECO or NABTEB.
- Height requirement is at least 1.66 metres tall for males, and 1.63 metres tall for females.
- You must be physically and mentally fit.
- You must be free from any criminal conviction by a court of law.
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Ensure also that you prepare the scanned copies of your credentials which will be uploaded unto the online application form. These should include:
- Your Birth Certificate or sworn Declaration of Age
- Your academic certificates (SSCE, GCE, NECO, NABTEB, ND, NCE, Trade Test, B.Sc and more)
- Certificate of State of Origin
Once you have registered on the portal, completed the application form and submitted, you must print out the following documents as well, then proceed to fill and sign them:
- Acknowledgement card
- Attestation form duly signed by your Local government chairman or a serving military officer
- Parent/Guardian Consent form
Successful applicants whose names are shortlisted for the next stage of the recruitment exercise will be displayed on the NAF recruitment portal at a stipulated date to be announced by the Director of Public Relations. Meanwhile, candidates are to bring along the printed documents above to the designated venue of the NAF Recruitment Selection Board interview.
Thereafter, shortlisted candidates will be required to undergo the Nigerian Airforce Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) for 6 months at the NAF Military Training Center in Kaduna.
