Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, Chief of the Air Staff, has promised that the Nigerian Air Force will put civilian safety first and prevent collateral damage while conducting operations.
During his first meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding, and other senior officers at the 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 continue to work 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 claims that by interacting with communities and making sure that missions 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 professionalism and operational discipline,” he continued.
According to Aneke, the strategic meeting would evaluate the force’s existing posture, pinpoint any shortcomings, 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 would be at the center of 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 stated.
To be clear, we won’t let them down. Ladies and gentlemen, we shall carry out Mr. President’s explicit and unambiguous directions to the letter.
“Our stance won’t be unclear. Now is the moment to take action, and we will succeed.
The meeting was opened after the Air Chief thanked the president for having faith in him.
The Nigerian Air Force has been under public criticism in recent years due to unintentional airstrikes during counterterrorism operations that resulted in civilian casualties.
Leaders in the community and civil society organizations called for increased operational accuracy and responsibility as a result of these instances.
A change toward precision-led and community-focused air operations was indicated by Aneke’s comments.
