The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reinforced its commitment to safeguarding civilians in conflict zones with the completion of a five-day Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) in Air Operations course for the first batch of officers.
The training, hosted by the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC) in Abuja, brought together pilots, UAV operators, armament specialists, legal officers, public relations experts, and other professionals in a multi-disciplinary effort to minimize civilian casualties during military operations. Conducted in partnership with Conflict, Security and Development Consult Limited, the programme runs in three batches from 11 August to 5 September 2025.
Directed by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, the initiative builds on the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) launched earlier this year. Participants were trained on International Humanitarian Law, Rules of Engagement, No-Strike List (NSL) protocols, and Sensitive Target Approval and Review (STAR) processes.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, representing the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, stressed that NAF’s efforts extend beyond legal compliance by positioning civilian protection as a strategic advantage. He noted that minimizing civilian harm not only preserves lives but also strengthens community trust, improves intelligence sharing, and undermines hostile actors.
With more batches of officers scheduled for training before September, the NAF has signaled its determination to make civilian protection a central element of its operational doctrine.
