In a bold move to enhance the protection of civilians in conflict areas, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has inaugurated a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) Board to lead the implementation of its Civilian Harm Mitigation Action Plan (CHMR-AP). This strategic initiative reflects the NAF’s growing commitment to upholding international humanitarian law and embedding accountability in air operations.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Board the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, represented by the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, reaffirmed NAF’s unwavering commitment to protecting civilians during operations. He noted that the NAF remains resolute in ensuring its missions are conducted with precision, accountability, and humanity.“We will continue to adapt and refine our strategies to minimise harm and strengthen the legitimacy of our operations,” the CAS stated, underscoring the importance of embedding civilian protection into the heart of NAF’s air power doctrine.
The CHMR Board has been tasked with driving the execution of the CHMR-AP across the full spectrum of NAF’s organisational structure, including joint operational environments. According to the CAS, “Effective implementation requires prompt coordination across the entire NAF echelon. This board will ensure that our commitment is translated into measurable action.”
Key responsibilities of the board include identifying, compiling, and assessing data on civilian harm incidents. This encompasses intelligence from NAF combat assessments, reports from partner nations, non-governmental organisations, civil society groups, and open-source materials. Additionally, the NAF Civilian Harm Assessment and Investigation Cell is charged with conducting harm assessments, analysing patterns and trends, draw lessons and monitoring implementation progress.
“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 noted that over the years, the “NAF has consistently adapted its strategy to suit Nigeria’s evolving threat environment, employing air power with precision in various theatres across the country. The establishment of the CHMR Board is another layer in this transformation, reinforcing the NAF’s mission to balance operational effectiveness with ethical responsibility”.
Air Marshal Abubbakar noted that by institutionalising civilian harm mitigation, the NAF aims not only to reduce the risk of civilian casualties but also to foster greater public trust and operational transparency. The CHMR Board is expected to serve as a cornerstone for continued reforms in the conduct of air operations, ensuring that the protection of civilians remains central to all mission planning and execution.
