NAF Hits Safety Landmark with One-Year Incident-Free Aviation Record
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has achieved a major milestone in its aviation history—recording an entire year without a single aircraft mishap.
This feat, described by top commanders as a landmark achievement, reflects the success of the Force’s deliberate and ongoing reforms to institutionalize a proactive safety culture.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, announced the development during the 2025 Safety Review Board (SRB) Meeting today at the NAF Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking to senior officers and aviation safety stakeholders, Abubakar credited the incident-free record to discipline, foresight, and enhanced professionalism across all NAF units.
“This is not a coincidence or luck. It is the result of strategic reforms, expanded safety education, and consistent operational oversight,” the Air Chief declared. “It reflects our collective commitment to ensuring safety remains a core operational value and not just a compliance routine.”
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According to the Air Chief, the NAF has significantly expanded its safety training efforts, with over 1,300 airmen and 157 officers undergoing rigorous induction and awareness sessions in 2025 alone. The overall number of safety-trained personnel now stands at 1,199—a move he described as essential to integrating safety consciousness at all levels of command.
Air Marshal Abubakar emphasized that even the most advanced aircraft become liabilities in the absence of a robust safety environment. “Technology without safety is like speed without control. We are matching our expanding airpower capabilities with equally strong safety systems.”
In his remarks, the Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Abidoye, provided further insight into the work behind the record. He revealed that evaluation teams visited 58 units across the country and conducted safety inspections in 31 within the first half of the year. Multiple seminars and sensitization campaigns were also held to deepen awareness.
The CAS praised Air Officers Commanding (AOCs) for sustaining quarterly Safety Action Group meetings and charged them to drive accountability at the unit level. “Most aviation accidents stem from lapses in communication or procedure. We must guard against complacency,” he warned.
The SRB meeting ended with a renewed pledge by the NAF leadership to sustain its zero-incident momentum and entrench safety as a non-negotiable standard in all operations.
By PRNigeria
