The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has reaffirmed that strict adherence to international humanitarian law enhances, rather than hinders, operational effectiveness.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Civilian Harm Mitigation training on Friday, August 29, 2025, in Abuja, the CAS, who was represented by the Chief of Civil Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, noted that protecting civilians in conflict environments strengthens trust and cooperation from host communities, facilitates intelligence gathering, and contributes to long-term stability.
According to a statement by the NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore, Ehimen Ejodame, the CAS emphasized that adherence to international humanitarian law is never an obstacle to operational effectiveness; rather, it is a force multiplier. “Protecting civilian lives fosters trust and cooperation from local communities, facilitates intelligence gathering, and contributes to long-term stability,” he said. “It also strengthens Nigeria’s standing as a professional and responsible actor in the global security space.”
In line with these commitments, the NAF launched its Civilian Harm Mitigation Action Plan earlier this year. According to the CAS, “a key component of this plan is the establishment of a dedicated Department of Civilian Harm Mitigation at the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre.” He added that this course has served as a preparatory step towards the department’s full establishment.
“The department will function as the hub for NAF-wide training, analysis, and doctrine on civilian protection, thereby institutionalizing best practices for harm mitigation and response during air operations”, he added.
The CAS urged participants of the training to continue to embody professionalism, discipline, and accountability in the conduct of air operations. He added that while technology, platforms, and tactics provide the means to fight, “it is our values, respect for human dignity, and compliance with international law that truly define us as a force for good.”
The training reflects the NAF’s compliance with international obligations as a responsible global citizen. Nigeria remains committed to upholding conventions such as the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols, the Hague Regulations, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The Civilian Harm Mitigation training, which commenced on August 11, 2025, was conducted in three batches for 69 officers. The training covered key topics, including international humanitarian law in the context of Nigerian air operations, precision selection of ordnance to minimize collateral damage, application of Rules of Engagement, positive target identification methods, targeting categorization, the No-Strike List (NSL), and the Sensitive Target Approval and Review (STAR) process.
The CAS commended the facilitators, organizers, and participants of the training, noting that its successful completion would enhance the NAF’s ability to minimize civilian harm and promote accountability in military operations.
In his welcome address, the Commandant Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre, Air Vice Marshal Michael Ekwueme thanked the CAS for believing in the Centre’s competence to deliver the training. He urged the participants to put all they had learned to practical use on their return to their theatres. He also remarked that the 69 officers who attended the training underwent a rigorous curriculum covering various aspects of international humanitarian law and civilian harm mitigation.
Practical modules also addressed advanced protocols for engaging sensitive targets under operational pressure. The training was designed to strengthen NAF personnel’s knowledge of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and other global treaties that guide the protection of civilians during armed conflict.
Director of Public Relations and Information
Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force
29 August, 2025
