Abuja — The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians in conflict zones with the successful completion of a five-day Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) in Air Operations course for its first batch of specially selected officers.
The training, held at the Air Warfare and Doctrine Centre (AWDC), Abuja, brought together pilots, UAV operators, armament specialists, legal officers, and public relations experts, reflecting the multi-disciplinary approach needed to safeguard non-combatants in modern warfare.
Organised in partnership with Conflict, Security and Development Consult Limited, the programme will run in three batches between 11 August and 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, embedding legality, precision, and humanity at the heart of air operations. The curriculum covered International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Rules of Engagement, the No-Strike List (NSL), Sensitive Target Approval and Review (STAR) processes, and advanced protocols for engaging sensitive targets.
According to the CAS, the training underscores NAF’s professional and moral responsibility to protect civilians, with measurable improvements already recorded in reducing collateral damage across operational theatres.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, who represented the Chief of Civil-Military Relations, said NAF’s approach goes beyond compliance with international law by positioning civilian protection as a strategic advantage. He stressed that safeguarding innocent lives builds community trust, enhances intelligence gathering, and isolates hostile actors, ultimately serving as a force multiplier.
With subsequent batches of officers scheduled for training before September, the NAF said it remains committed to making civilian protection a central pillar of its operational doctrine.
 has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civilians in conflict zones with the successful completion of a five-day Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) in Air Operations course for its first batch of specially selected officers.){kind=link}