The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reiterated its commitment to reinforcing troops’ combat readiness and physical fitness for operational efficiency.

AVM Ahmed Idris, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Special Operations Command, Bauchi, stated this at the concluded 2026 Second Quarter Road March Exercise on Saturday in Bauchi.

He said the exercise was a key component of the service training calendar, designed to enhance endurance, mental resilience, and battlefield preparedness of officers, airmen, and airwomen in line with its constitutional mandate of defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

Represented by AVM Solomon Lazarus, his Chief of Staff, Mr Idris commended personnel for their discipline, determination, and professionalism during the physical exercise.

According to Idris, the personnel’s performance reflects the service’s sustained drive to maintain a highly motivated and combat-ready force.

“The road march is not only a test of stamina but also a strategic tool for improving operational effectiveness, particularly in ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations to combat kidnapping, cattle rustling, cultism, and other security threats across the country,” he said.

Mr Idris reaffirmed the NAF’s readiness to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure peace and stability in the country.

He lauded the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, for his continued support, logistics provision, and commitment to personnel welfare and training.

The gesture, he said, contributed significantly to the success of the exercise.

While urging participants to sustain a fitness culture beyond the exercise period through regular physical training, Mr Idris said sustained fitness remains vital for operational efficiency and combat readiness at all times.

(NAN)