The Nigerian Air Force’s Chief of Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has promised to put civilian safety first and prevent collateral damage when conducting operations.
At his first meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, and other senior officers at NAF Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Aneke made the pledge.
He added that the service will prioritize operational effectiveness, safety, and professionalism, and that the decision is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s expectations for the armed forces.
He declared, “We will keep working closely with sister services and other security agencies to root out terrorism, eliminate threats, and deny safe haven to all adversaries of our nation.”
He said that by interacting with communities and making sure that operations continue to be people-focused, the Air Force will improve civil-military relations.
“Preventing collateral damage and safeguarding civilian lives will continue to be a defining characteristic of our operational discipline and professionalism,” he continued.
According to Aneke, the strategic meeting would evaluate the force’s existing posture, pinpoint any weaknesses, and examine ways to improve efficacy.
The Air Chief also promised to follow the president’s instructions to the letter, saying that operations and safety will be the top priorities for all leadership decisions.
“The aspirations of millions of Nigerians rest, in part, on what we do here – on how effectively we carry out our duties and safeguard the territorial integrity of our country,” he declared.
“To be clear, we won’t let them down. Ladies and gentlemen, the directions issued by Mr. President shall be carried out exactly as stated.
“Our stance will be unambiguous. Now is the moment to act, and we will succeed.
The meeting was opened by the Air Chief, who thanked the president for his confidence.
Due to unintentional bombings that resulted in civilian casualties during counterterrorism operations, the Nigerian Air Force has been under public criticism in recent years.
Leaders in the community and civil society organizations called for increased operational precision and accountability in response to these instances.
A move toward precision-led and community-sensitive air operations was indicated by Aneke’s comments.
