NAF Inaugurates Civilian Harm Mitigation Board to Boost Public Trust
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today has inaugurated a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) Board to bolster public confidence and ensure greater accountability in its operations.
The new body, according to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, is tasked with implementing the NAF’s Civilian Harm Mitigation Action Plan (CHMR-AP), a strategic initiative designed to protect civilians in conflict zones and align NAF operations with international humanitarian law.
Speaking at the Board’s inaugural meeting today in Abuja, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, underscored the NAF’s unwavering dedication to civilian protection.
Represented by Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized the commitment to precision, accountability, and humanity in all NAF missions.
“We will continue to adapt and refine our strategies to minimize harm and strengthen the legitimacy of our operations,” the CAS stated, highlighting the integration of civilian protection into the core of NAF’s air power doctrine.
The newly formed CHMR Board will oversee the execution of the CHMR-AP across the entire NAF structure, including joint operational environments.
Read Also:
The air chief stressed that “effective implementation requires prompt coordination across the entire NAF echelon. This board will ensure that our commitment is translated into measurable action.”
Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame noted that key responsibilities of the Board include the meticulous identification, compilation, and assessment of data related to civilian harm incidents.
He said this will involve gathering intelligence from NAF combat assessments, reports from partner nations, non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, and open-source materials.
He addd that a dedicated Civilian Harm Assessment and Investigation Cell within the NAF will conduct harm assessments, analyze patterns and trends, draw lessons learned, and monitor implementation progress.
“This is a critical institutional step,” Air Marshal Abubakar affirmed. “We must ensure that our air operations do not compromise the safety of the very people we are sworn to protect. Every innocent life matters.”
He noted that the NAF has consistently adapted its strategy to Nigeria’s evolving threat environment, employing air power with precision across various theaters nationwide. The establishment of the CHMR Board marks another layer in this ongoing transformation, reinforcing the NAF’s mission to balance operational effectiveness with ethical responsibility.
“The CHMR Board is expected to be a cornerstone for continued reforms in the conduct of air operations, ensuring that civilian protection remains central to all mission planning and execution,” the statement added.
