Abuja: The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has directed all Nigerian Air Force (NAF) units and commanders to intensify adherence to aviation safety standards, stating that safety must remain the foundation of air operations. Aneke issued this directive while inaugurating a maiden Safety Management Systems (SMS) training for officers of air rank in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the directive comes after recent reviews of aircraft handling, crew procedures, and flight line management across NAF bases. Aneke emphasized that safety is non-negotiable in NAF operations, asserting that every flight, maintenance task, and ground operation must strictly comply with global aviation standards. The CAS highlighted that the complexity of ongoing operations has increased risk exposure, necessitating enhanced preventive measures, personnel vigilance, and technical discipline.
Aneke announced the activation of a revised safety framework aimed at improving reporting culture, enhancing human-factor training, and strengthening the chain of responsibility from the flight line to command headquarters. He instructed that safety audits be intensified and stressed that commanders must take full ownership of every procedure under their watch, as safety is a command responsibility without excuses.
The NAF is investing in improved maintenance systems, flight data monitoring, and refresher training for pilots, engineers, and aircrew to minimize incidents. Aneke emphasized the importance of a well-maintained aircraft, disciplined crew, and vigilant ground team as the best insurance against avoidable occurrences, urging personnel to report any concerns.
The CAS reiterated that NAF’s operational successes must not compromise safety. He expressed confidence that the new measures would strengthen NAF’s safety record and enhance mission reliability across operational theatres, underscoring that airpower is only effective when safe.
Earlier, the Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation (SOSE), NAF, AVM Ebimobo Ebiowe, highlighted that the training aims to strengthen the service’s safety culture across all commands and formations. Ebiowe stated that the programme aligns with the Chief of Air Staff’s vision for a proactive, data-driven, and system-anchored safety culture.
According to him, the training follows deliberations from the July 2025 Safety Review Board Meeting, which identified the need to formally integrate SMS training at the top leadership level. He noted that NAF has steadily shifted from a preventive to a proactive safety culture, incorporating SMS principles in planning and operations. Ebiowe urged participants to actively engage in the workshop and apply lessons in preparing SMS-compliant safety reports for forthcoming assessments, describing the training as a milestone for ensuring senior leadership is equipped to champion safety at strategic, operational, and tactical levels.