Chief of Air the Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, on Tuesday said Nigeria needs a holistic, non-kinetic whole-of-society strategy to address the root causes of insurgency and end the recent escalation of terrorist attacks and resurgence of insecurity in parts of the country.
Air Marshal Abubakar told journalists in Abuja that that despite ongoing military operations, what Nigeria require for long-term peace is a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” approach to tackling insecurity.
The Air Chief, who was responding to concerns raised over the recent resurgence terrorists and bandits attacks, said: “Yes, we have noticed that quite a few Nigerians have lost their lives recently. It’s a complex environment. And the truth is, insurgencies are not solved by the military alone. They take a very long time to address, and the solution lies largely outside kinetic operations.”
Air Marshal Abubakar said that based on empirical studies, only 25 per cent of insurgency are resolved through use of force while 70 to 75 per cent of solution lies on the implementation of non-kinetic measures such as governance, education, economic development, and deradicalisation programmes.
“This is based on global research across several conflict zones. Without addressing the root causes poverty, marginalisation, unemployment, we will continue to see resurgence in violence, even after military victories,” he warned.
The Air Chief said recent examples in the Northeast showed how temporary gains could be lost if civilian governance structures fail to follow up with necessary interventions.
“In 2023, the Northeast theatre was relatively quiet, and we redeployed more resources to the Northwest. But now, the Northeast is showing signs of resurgence again. That tells you the problem is deeper than firepower,” he said.
He also explained that NAF has taken steps to improve civil-military relations through medical outreach, educational interventions, and quick-impact projects in communities across affected regions.
“But we can only do so much. This is why we have been engaging with state governors and community leaders to emphasise that sustainable peace requires more than airstrikes,” he added.
Abubakar concluded by calling for unity and collaborative effort across all sectors government, traditional institutions, civil society, and the media to rebuild trust and restore lasting peace.
Air Marshal Abubakar also added that the NAF has embarked on extensive structural reforms to mitigate civilian harm, enhance operational efficiency, and consolidate air power capabilities.
He said the restructuring became imperative following lessons learnt from past experiences, including incidents of collateral damage and infrastructural limitations in some theatres of operation.
According to him, the need to ensure civilian protection during internal security operations has driven the NAF to establish a dedicated Civil-Military Relations Branch at the Air Force Headquarters to coordinate all engagements with civilians.
He said the unit focuses particularly on Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) and was already leading the formulation of a Civilian Harm Mitigation Action and Response Plan to guide NAF’s operations across all theatres.
“This document is very important. It will not only help us minimise harm to civilians during operations, but will also outline how to respond when incidents occur, including compensation, communication, and preventive strategies,” he said.
The CAS noted that modern conflicts require precision and intelligence-driven air campaigns, especially when adversaries embed themselves within civilian communities.
“You have to be highly precise. If not, every day you go out there, you may end up harming people who are not supposed to be harmed. That is unacceptable,” he added.
To enhance its structure and better respond to evolving threats, Abubakar said the Nigerian Air Force had established several new directorates and centres of excellence.
“Transformation and Innovation Branch: This branch is responsible for driving research and development efforts, while encouraging innovative technologies and methods to improve the Force’s capabilities.
“Directorate of Peace Support Operations: The directorate oversees air operations in support of regional and international peacekeeping missions and enhances NAF’s coordination with joint and coalition partners.
“Directorate of Land Administration: This office was created to manage land assets and ensure proper documentation, acquisition, and utilisation of land resources owned by the Air Force.
“Directorate of Air Ordnance and Certification: The directorate handles certification of aircraft, personnel, and munitions, ensuring that high standards are maintained in flight operations and weapons handling.”
On Directorate of Cyber Warfare, Abubakar said cyber threats have become increasingly critical to national security. This directorate is tasked with developing capabilities in offensive and defensive cyber operations and protecting NAF’s digital infrastructure.
“Air Power Centre of Excellence (APCoE): This strategic centre combines existing institutions like the Air Warfare Centre (Makurdi), the Air Warfare Doctrine Centre (Abuja), the Institute of Air Power Studies, and the Air-Ground Integration School. The consolidation is aimed at promoting synergy, optimal resource usage, and improved doctrinal and tactical output.”
He said that after a thorough review, the NAF decided to establish a specialised logistics college to address its unique needs in supply chain management, aviation logistics, and technical support.
Abubakar explained that the decision followed an internal study which showed that civilian institutions could not meet the specialised demands of NAF logistics operations.
“We needed something focused entirely on our peculiar environment the fast-paced, high-pressure logistical operations that support air missions across difficult terrains,” he said.
The Air Chief added that, alongside these structural reforms, NAF is also revamping its training to align with mission-based development, while simultaneously restoring operable aircraft to full service.
He disclosed that about 90 per cent of all aircraft in NAF’s inventory that were grounded due to maintenance or parts shortages had now been returned to operational status.
Aircraft returning to active service include the MI-135, Super Puma helicopters, Delta 1-2s, and several light attack and surveillance aircraft. These assets, he said, would enhance operations in the Northeast and other flashpoints.
He also noted challenges in airfield infrastructure across key locations like Enugu, Makurdi, Katsina, Bauchi, and Kaduna, which limited NAF’s ability to conduct night operations due to the lack of runway lighting, instrument landing systems, and adequate hangars.
“We’re addressing these with massive investments to upgrade aprons, hangars, runway lights, and instrument landing systems so we can support round-the-clock operations,” he said.
Abubakar assured that the Nigerian Air Force remains committed to international standards of warfare and human rights, while balancing its duty to neutralize threats and protect national security.
“We are restructuring for relevance, mission effectiveness, and legitimacy. The adversary may not follow the rules of war, but we must,” he said.
The parley was part of a series of engagements aimed at fostering transparency and strategic communication between the Nigerian Air Force and the media.
Written with additional reports from Zagazola Makama