Civilian Protection Now Core to NAF’s Operational Strategy – Air Chief
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has declared that protecting civilians in conflict zones is now central to the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) operational strategy, describing it as both a moral duty and a professional imperative.
He made this known at the conclusion of the first batch of a five-day Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) in Air Operations training, which ended on 15 August 2025 at the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC), Abuja.
In a statement by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, said the course, directed by the CAS and coordinated by the Civil-Military Relations Branch, was designed to institutionalise civilian protection as a core pillar of NAF’s doctrine.
The programme, delivered in partnership with Conflict, Security and Development Consult Limited, brought together pilots, unmanned aerial vehicle operators, armament specialists, legal officers, public relations experts and other key personnel, reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of civilian protection in modern warfare.
According to Air Marshal Abubakar, the training builds on the NAF’s Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) launched earlier this year.
“From the very beginning of my tenure, I made it clear that protecting civilians is not just a moral duty, it is a professional imperative. The CHMR-AP was our blueprint to institutionalise this principle, ensuring that every commander, crew, and analyst is trained to apply the highest standards of humanitarian consideration in mission planning and execution,” he said.
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The Air Chief noted that the implementation of the CHMR-AP had already reduced collateral damage incidents despite the intensity of ongoing air operations. He added that the CHM course would further equip officers with the judgment, tools, and mindset required to safeguard innocent lives even under complex battlefield conditions.
Participants of the first batch underwent rigorous sessions covering International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Nigerian air operations, rules of engagement, precision selection of ordnance, no-strike lists, sensitive target approval and review (STAR) processes, and methods of positive target identification. Practical modules also focused on advanced engagement protocols for sensitive targets.
Representing the Chief of Civil-Military Relations at the closing ceremony, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet emphasised that the NAF’s commitment went beyond international legal compliance. “When communities see that we take extraordinary measures to keep them safe, we build trust. That trust is a force multiplier; it strengthens intelligence sharing and isolates hostile actors. Protecting civilians is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do,” he stressed.
The CHM course is scheduled to run in three batches of about 30 officers each between 11 August and 5 September 2025. With two more batches expected to complete the programme by September, the NAF said it was making clear that civilian protection will remain central to its operational strategy across all theatres.
The training was announced in a statement by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters
By PRNigeria
