The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising civilian lives during air operations, as part of renewed efforts to strengthen professionalism, accountability and civilian protection in military engagements.
The assurance comes amid heightened concerns over incidents of civilian casualties recorded in previous air operations targeting terrorists and armed groups, prompting renewed emphasis on improving precision, operational discipline and harm reduction measures in future missions.
The position was restated on Tuesday in Abuja during the maiden Seminar on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) for strategic-level officers, held at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force.
Declaring the seminar open, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described the initiative as a major milestone in the Air Force’s ongoing drive to enhance operational effectiveness while upholding accountability and respect for civilian lives.
Aneke stressed that the NAF remains committed to institutionalising Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response across all levels of its operations, noting that public trust and confidence remain critical to sustained operational success.
According to him, civilian harm mitigation should not be seen as a constraint on military operations but as a framework that enhances precision, improves decision-making, and strengthens strategic legitimacy.
“Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response is not a constraint on our operational effectiveness; rather, it is a framework that enhances precision, improves decision-making and ultimately preserves strategic legitimacy,” he said.
He added that success in modern security operations must be measured not only by mission outcomes but also by the extent to which civilian lives and property are protected.
The Chief of the Air Staff further noted that integrating civilian protection principles into operations promotes accountability, improves planning, and strengthens overall operational discipline.
In his welcome address, the Chief of Civil-Military Relations (CCMR), Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, described the seminar as a landmark effort in strengthening professionalism and embedding civilian protection in military operations.
Gabkwet said modern military engagements require a careful balance between achieving operational objectives and safeguarding civilians, particularly in conflict-prone environments where non-combatants are often at risk.
“Operational success is not defined solely by tactical achievements, but by the ability to conduct operations with precision, discipline, restraint and utmost regard for the safety, dignity and wellbeing of civilian populations within areas of operation,” he stated.
He added that the seminar provided a platform for knowledge sharing, reflection and dialogue on best practices aimed at strengthening operational excellence, accountability and civilian protection within the Air Force.
The seminar is part of the NAF’s broader efforts to institutionalise civilian protection principles in air operations while improving professionalism and reducing the risk of harm to non-combatants in conflict zones.