NAF Records Accident-free Year

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has achieved a one-year operation without any aircraft mishap.

This is just as over 1,300 airmen and 157 officers have undergone comprehensive safety induction and awareness training in one year, bringing the total number of safety-trained personnel to 1,199.

NAF spokesman Air Cdre Ehimen Ejodame said the service has continued to raise the bar in aviation safety through a series of deliberate reforms aimed at institutionalising a culture of operational discipline, foresight, and professionalism.

In his address during the 2025 Safety Review Board (SRB) Meeting held on 22 June 2025 at the NAF Headquarters Abuja, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar disclosed NAF’s remarkable development of marking a full year without an aircraft mishap.

The air chief noted that the absence of air mishaps over the past 12 months was not fortuitous but the product of a proactive safety culture.

He said, “This is a significant achievement, one that underscores the collective commitment and vigilance of our personnel.

“Safety is not a one-time achievement, but a continuous process requiring foresight, innovation, and accountability.”

According to the CAS, the NAF’s safety success stems from strategic interventions, including expanded safety training, enhanced command-level oversight, and the adoption of predictive safety management practices.

He said, “In 2025 alone, over 1,300 airmen and 157 officers have undergone comprehensive safety induction and awareness training, bringing the total number of safety-trained personnel to 1,199

“Our goal is to make safety education universal within our ranks,” the Air Chief noted, emphasising the need for sustained investment in human capacity alongside technological advancements.

He further stressed the importance of aligning operational capability with a resilient safety infrastructure.

“No matter how advanced an aircraft may be, its effectiveness is ultimately determined by the safety environment in which it operates,” he added.

Abubaker said that as the federal government continues to enhance Nigeria’s airpower with modern platforms, the NAF will remain focused on ensuring these assets operate within the highest safety parameters.

He therefore called on senior commanders to lead by example, stressing that safety must never be reduced to a procedural formality.

“We must remain vigilant and avoid the trap of complacency. Most aviation accidents are not caused by fate, but by lapses in judgment, communication, or adherence to procedures,” he warned.

Commending the efforts of air officers commanding to sustain quarterly Safety Action Group meetings, he also urged greater accountability and activity at the unit level, underscoring that the responsibility for safety must be shared and internalised across the force.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the chief of standards and evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Abidoye, provided insight into the operational backbone of the NAF’s safety system.

He said, “With the support of the CAS, we conducted evaluation visits to 58 units in the first half of 2025 and completed safety inspections in 31.”

He further disclosed that safety awareness seminars had been held across multiple commands, reinforcing the culture of safety consciousness.