The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has charged the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to deepen civil-military relations as a strategic tool for enhancing operational efficiency, declaring that mission success in today’s security environment depends not only on firepower but also on public trust, accountability and cooperation.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the Civil-Military Relations Conference 2026 held at NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, Air Marshal Aneke said the conference theme, “Leveraging Civil-Military Relations for Enhancing Operational Efficiency,” aligns directly with his command philosophy of building a “professional, agile and people-centric Air Force.”
He stressed that in contemporary operations, success can no longer be defined solely by kinetic dominance.
“In today’s complex security environment, operational success is no longer defined solely by kinetic dominance, but by our ability to build trust, foster cooperation, and integrate the human dimensions into air operations,” he said.
According to the CAS, the NAF under his leadership has repositioned civil-military relations as a core operational enabler, noting that the Service now recognises that the quality of its engagement with civilian populations directly affects mission outcomes.
He said the Air Force has strengthened community engagement frameworks, institutionalised feedback mechanisms and expanded strategic communication channels across operational levels to ensure that its actions remain “precise, responsible, transparent, and aligned to the expectations of the Nigerian people.”
Air Marshal Aneke cited the recent approval of compensation to victims of the accidental NAF airstrike in Sokoto as a demonstration of the Service’s commitment to accountability and compassion.
“Our commitment to accountability and compassion… was demonstrated in the approval of compensation to victims of the accidental airstrike in Sokoto. This action accentuates our resolve to uphold justice while maintaining operational momentum,” he stated.
He further disclosed that through targeted Chief of the Air Staff Special Intervention Projects in communities across Gombe, Rivers, Delta, Kano and Akwa Ibom states, the NAF has continued to reinforce its non-kinetic footprint through medical outreach and infrastructure support.
Describing the modern battlespace as “multidimensional — physical, cognitive and psychological,” the CAS urged commanders and participants to prioritise smarter, intelligence-driven operations anchored on precision targeting, efficient resource utilisation and stronger intelligence fusion.
He also called for the deliberate synchronisation of kinetic and non-kinetic efforts, stressing that strategic communications, psychological operations and community engagement must be integrated into operational planning.
“When citizens trust us, they become force multipliers, providing critical intelligence and strengthening our overall effectiveness,” he said.
Air Marshal Aneke tasked participants at the conference to produce practical and actionable recommendations that would help institutionalise civil synergy, leverage research and technology, and deepen partnerships with civil institutions.
He reiterated that the ultimate goal is to enhance operational efficiency while upholding professionalism, accountability and respect for human dignity.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chief Host, Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said the conference marked a major milestone for one of the youngest branches in the NAF.
He explained that the Civil-Military Relations (CMR) Branch was formally established on 18 July 2024 as a standalone branch to strengthen the Air Force’s non-kinetic operations and respond to emerging civil-military engagement demands.
According to him, the branch comprises three directorates — the Directorate of Coordination and Cooperation, the Directorate of Kinetic/Non-Kinetic Operations and the Directorate of Human Rights and Gender Affairs — while the office of the NAF Ombudsman/Commissioner was later subsumed under it.
Gabkwet said since assuming office in October 2025, his team has pursued a roadmap focused on policy development, training and capacity building, stakeholder engagement, civilian harm mitigation and response, human rights issue resolution, special intervention projects and initiatives to address sexual exploitation and abuse.
He highlighted some of the branch’s achievements to include the articulation of a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan, as well as the establishment of a Civilian Harm Mitigation Department at the Air Warfare and Procurement Centre.
He also disclosed that the branch developed a digital complaints platform to enable civilians and NAF personnel to report grievances, including issues relating to sexual exploitation, abuse and human rights concerns, through a confidential and streamlined process.
Gabkwet said the branch also fulfilled the CAS’s pledge to compensate victims of accidental NAF airstrikes in Sokoto, Zamfara and Nasarawa states following thorough investigations and acceptance of responsibility where necessary.
He noted that beyond improving public trust and projecting positive international optics, the compensation paid in Sokoto also helped unlock an amicable resolution of a longstanding land dispute involving about 1,386 hectares belonging to the NAF Base in the state.
The CMR chief added that the branch has continued to drive the implementation of the CAS Special Intervention Projects, many of which have already been commissioned in communities across Zamfara, Gombe, Rivers, Delta, Kano and Akwa Ibom states, with more nearing completion.
He further revealed that a NAF policy on sexual exploitation and abuse is nearing completion and would soon be unveiled to align the Service with evolving institutional and international standards.
On the purpose of the conference, Gabkwet recalled that the NAF had earlier reactivated CMR desk officers across units and followed this up with sensitisation seminars and workshops in all commands to improve coordination and capacity.
He said the conference was designed to build on those gains by broadening the knowledge base of CMR personnel and other NAF officers, while generating practical discussions that would improve the execution of civil-military relations functions across the Service.
The conference, according to NAF leadership, is expected to strengthen the Air Force’s people-centred approach to operations and further entrench civil-military relations as a critical pillar of national security and mission success.
There wer je lectures by selected resource persons and discussants. The first lecture was delivered by Professor Okey Ikechukwu on Civil- Military Relations and Perception Managemeny: NAF in Focus and the second lecture was delivered by Retired AVM James Matty Daniel Gwani delivered lecture on Leveraging Civil- Military Relations for Emhanced Operational Efficiency and the conference was rounded up by Panel discussion and Interactive Session which provides valuable insights on best practices and strategies for leveraging civil-military relations to support operational effectiveness.
