The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar led other past Air Chiefs to unveil a landmark policy document titled, Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan, designed to guide NAF efforts in reducing Collateral Damage during its operations.
The document was the first of its kind to be introduced in the Nigerian Air Force. It was unveiled during the NAF Day 2025 seminar, with the theme "Optimising Civil Military Relations in a Joint Operational Environment for enhanced air operations." At the heart of this theme is the recognition that the citizenry remains the first value partner in the quest to secure the nation.
Unveiling the document today, Tuesday 20th May 2025 at the NAF Officers' Mess and Suites, Kado, Abuja, the Special Guest of Honour, the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, ably represented by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla urged them to sustain various efforts and encourage an energy towards harmony and cooperation with the civil populace.
The Defence minister commended NAF for the theme adopted for this seminar, "Optimising Civil-Military relations in a Joint Operational Environment for enhanced air operations, is particularly relevant in today's world.
He said the current security landscape demands an all-of-society approach where the civil society not only has a vital role to play but needs to be carried along in the execution of military tasks and solutions.
"I must say that we are particularly impressed by the giant strides you are making and repeat the good trust and understanding with our civil populace, including the local communities. Your focus on harmonious civil relations is really the way to go, and such efforts are crucial to the success of our air operations as well as other forms of engagement to end the millions of insurgency, banditry and other criminal activities that have been detrimental in this country. By building such trust, we can gather intelligence, respond effectively to security threats and promote peace and stability.
"To further strengthen its capacity and give direction to NAF civil military relations activities, the Nigerian Air Force Civil Military Relations Policy was promulgated to streamline the modalities of interfacing and relating with ministries, departments and agencies, civil society groups, non-governmental and faith-based organizations, as well as the general civilian population.
Such efforts are geared towards gaining and maintaining stakeholders' confidence as well as invaluable support for the Nigerian Air Force operations. Therefore, the Nigerian Air Force has been very intentional in maintaining a robust relationship with the citizens and various corporate civil outfits in order to gain their confidence and gather support towards NAF operations.
In his welcome remarks, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, announced that with the extensive operational record, only a few verified instances of collateral damage have been reported. Base represents an oppressed rate of less than 0.005 per cent. An exceptional record by global standards, particularly in preventing the complexities of asymmetric warfare.
Air Marshal Abubakar said it is a powerful reflection of our operationality, precision and steadfast commitment to protecting civilian lives, even in the most challenging operational environment.
"While we take pride in this impressive record, we are by no means a plasmid, but very much aware that insurgents often deliberately embed themselves among these civilian populations to evade detection. Thereby, with unfortunate situations, we are collateral damage at the core, despite our best efforts at precision and restraint.
"In the few instances where civilian casualties are reported, the Nigerian Air Force has promptly conducted investigations, accepted responsibility, and taken necessary corrective actions to prevent future occurrences," he said
The Air Chief noted, the service has cooperatively invested in the past ecologies and robust protocols aimed at preventing civilian casualties. These efforts include the deployment of enhanced real-time surveillance platforms, the enforcement of stringent mission award procedures upon detection of civilian public presence, and the continuous training of personnel in international humanitarian law and law of armed conflict, as well as rules of engagement.
He added, "We have instituted both accountability mechanisms and recently upgraded our Directorate of Civil and Military Nations to branch status.
"This institutional reform provides greater capacity and strategic focus on non-connecting operations, ensuring that our engagements are ongoing in transparency, compassion, and national interest. It is not worthy that national security is a shared responsibility of all patriotic citizens and institutions.
"As such, the synergy between the military and civilian stakeholders remains central to achieving our collective aspirations for a secure and prosperous Nigeria. It is in these periods that we have chosen a thing that promotes dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect between the military and civilian population.
The activities scheduled for this year's NAF anniversary have been carefully upgraded to promote public engagement and deepen military relations.
The lectures, according to the Air Chief, are to build trust and perspective of sustainable civil military relations and civil-military relations and operational effectiveness during Air Force operations since the perspective will offer valuable insights and practical strategies for improving engagement.
"I am confident that the interactive sessions will spark meaningful discussions, address key concerns, and generate ideas that will become greater policy and enhance civil-military collaboration.
In his Keynote address, the governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, ably represented by Professor Usman Tai, urged the Air Force to complement its efforts with joint planning and execution with honour, armed services, and economic, or enforcing air missions, with decisive ground operations.
"That is, there is a need for air power to be married with ground operation or ground capability. That is a task that is expected to press value of the army, but even the Air Force resources are expected to acquire ground capability.
He added that on synergy between the services, there is also an acute need not to downplay the strategic, operational, and practical values of community relations, intelligence gathering, and locally work may remain crucial in winning the hearts and minds of the citizenry as a prerequisite to winning the war and keeping the peace.
In Borno State, we have made significant strides in promoting civil-military relations. "We have established a robust framework of collaboration and coordination with the State Government that has effectively operated in the State.
"This has enabled us to respond more effectively to security challenges and to provide support to affected communities.
"Accordingly, as we move forward, it is essential that we continue to prioritise missing military relations. We must work together to build trust, promote understanding, and foster cooperation.
Discussions at the seminar provide a valuable insight into ways that can strengthen the partnership with the military forces and the civilian population.
He urged all participants to freely exchange ideas, share experiences, and propose strategies for improving civil-military relations in our country. It is through such engagement that we can collectively chart a path towards more effective military professions, while fostering a stronger bond between the armed forces and the communities beside them.
He concluded by saying that civil-military relations are a force multiplier. I would like to urge all stakeholders to remain committed to optimising civil-military relations, and I look forward to continuing our collaboration and cooperation in the years to come.
Meanwhile, the Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla who represented the Minister of Defence at the Seminar summarised the lectures and discussion. He said the subjects that were discussed are very key to the successes of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and, by extension, the survival of this nation.
"I'm happy that the Air Force has chosen this very theme, which is optimising civil-military relations in a joint operational environment for enhanced air operations. This is one of the key areas that we need to synergise to ensure that we achieve our practical operational strategic objectives as an armed force. When I also look at the two papers that were presented by two eminent personalities whom I know very well," he noted
Professor Thar, an eminent resource person in the area of military studies, presented on the topic of building trust and cooperation for sustainable civil-military relations. It was very key and he delved into the conceptual aspects of that particular topic, which I commend for that effort.
I also look at the topic that was presented by our retired AVM Adesanya, which is about civil-military relations and operational effectiveness. Of course, in this modern concept of warfare, which sees national security as a whole-of-society approach. When you talk of the whole of society, you talk about the civil purpose, and therefore that topic is also germane to our successes and armed forces.
Also, the discussants from all that we have listened to show that people are really concerned about the impact of effective civil-military relations in the successes of our operations and, by extension, in achieving this grand national strategic objective of ensuring peace and security in this nation.
Dignitaries at the NAF Day 2025 Seminar were the Representative of the Minister of Defence, the Governor of Borno State, Chiefs of Civil Military Relations Departments from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Air Force, distinguished authority in the field of defence and security studies, U.S. Service Chiefs and a military retiree.