By Emmanuel Obisue
As part of efforts to strengthen operational accountability and safeguard civilian lives during military engagements, the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has inaugurated a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response, CHMR, Board.
The NAF said the initiative is aimed at leading the implementation of the Civilian Harm Mitigation Action Plan, CHMR-AP, marking a strategic shift toward integrating humanitarian principles into air operations.
A statement on Tuesday by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, said the commitment was made during the board’s inaugural meeting.
Representing the Chief of the Air Staff, CAS, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, at the event was the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola.
The CAS emphasized the importance of precision, accountability, and compassion in the execution of operations. “We will continue to adapt and refine our strategies to minimise harm and strengthen the legitimacy of our operations,” he said, stressing the need to integrate civilian protection into the core of NAF’s air power doctrine.
The NAF added that the newly inaugurated CHMR Board has been entrusted with overseeing the full-scale implementation of the CHMR-AP across all levels of the NAF’s organisational and operational framework, including joint operations with other military branches. “Effective implementation requires prompt coordination across the entire NAF echelon. This board will ensure that our commitment is translated into measurable action,” the CAS stated.
Part of the board’s core responsibilities will be identifying, compiling, and evaluating data related to civilian harm incidents. This will involve gathering intelligence from NAF combat assessments, foreign partner reports, civil society organisations, NGOs, and open-source platforms. Supporting this effort, the NAF Civilian Harm Assessment and Investigation Cell will conduct detailed harm assessments, analyse trends, extract operational lessons, and track the progress of corrective actions.
“This is a critical institutional step,” Air Marshal Abubakar affirmed. “We must ensure that our air operations do not compromise the safety of the very people we are sworn to protect. Every innocent life matters,” he added. He noted that the NAF’s evolving doctrine has consistently reflected efforts to align air power with ethical responsibility and the realities of Nigeria’s dynamic security environment.
Highlighting the long-term goals of the initiative, Air Marshal Abubakar stated that institutionalising civilian harm mitigation is intended not only to reduce casualties but also to build public trust and operational transparency.
