Section 1: Establishment and functions of the Armed Forces

(1) There is hereby established for the Federation an Armed Forces which shall be maintained and administered as set out in this Act and comprise the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force (in this Act referred to as the "Army", "Navy" and "Air Force") respectively.
(2) The Armed Forces shall consist of such-
(a) establishments and number of equipment;
(b) officers and non-commissioned officers; and
(c) soldiers, ratings and aircraftmen, as the case may be,
as the President may, in consultation with the National Assembly, determine.
(3) The Armed Forces shall be charged with the defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by land, sea and air and with such other duties as the National Assembly may, from time to time, prescribe or direct by an Act.
(4) Notwithstanding the generality of the provisions of subsection (3) of this section-
(a) the Navy shall, in particular, be further charged with-
(i) enforcing and assisting in co-ordinating the enforcement of all customs, laws, including anti-bunkering, fishery and immigration laws of Nigeria at sea;
(ii) enforcing and assisting in co-ordinating the enforcement of national and international maritime laws ascribed or acceded to by Nigeria;
(iii) making of charts and co-ordinating of all national hydrographic surveys; and
(iv) promoting, co-ordinating and enforcing safety regulations in the territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria;
(b) the Air Force shall, in particular, be further charged with-
(i) enforcing and assisting in co-ordinating the enforcement of international law, conventions, practices and customs ascribed or acceded to by Nigeria relating to aerial or space activities in the Nigerian air space;
(ii) co-ordinating and enforcing of national and international air laws acceded or ascribed to by Nigeria; and
(iii) delineating, demarcating and co-ordinating of all aerial surveys and security zones of the Nigerian air space.
(5) The authority conferred by this Act to maintain the Armed Forces shall include authority to raise and maintain units of or including women, and accordingly the provisions of this Act shall apply to women, subject to section 271 of this Act and to such modifications and adaptations as the President may by order specify from time to time.