By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has called for stronger collaboration between the military and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to ensure effective communication and citizens engagement in support of its operations.

The Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, made the call during a courtesy visit to the NAN headquarters, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ejodame described NAN as a “big brother” in the battle to win hearts and minds in modern warfare, and conveyed the appreciation and goodwill of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar.

He stressed that the dynamics of warfare had shifted beyond kinetic operations, noting that non-kinetic engagements such as public perception, strategic communication, and information management now play a decisive role in achieving mission success.

“We have come to say a big thank you to the News Agency of Nigeria for the remarkable work it is already doing in amplifying the efforts of NAF and the Armed Forces in general.

“In contemporary warfare, actual combat contributes as little as 25 to 30 per cent to overall victory.

“The remaining 70 to 75 per cent comes from non-kinetic efforts, especially winning the confidence of the people.

“This makes the media a crucial ally in the Armed Forces’ mission to safeguard national unity and security.

“Sometimes, wearing the uniform and speaking doesn’t move the public, but when trusted institutions like NAN speak on our behalf, it lends credibility and reassures citizens of our intentions,” he said.

Ejodame further noted that the visit was not just to appreciate past support, but also to seek deeper collaboration going forward.

“We are here today like Oliver Twist to ask for more support, more cooperation, and to strengthen the already existing relationship with the News Agency of Nigeria,” he added.

In his response, the Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, pledged the agency’s continued support for NAF and the entire Armed Forces.

Ali commended NAF for its professionalism and for being a dominant force in the West African sub-region, noting that the service has continued to command respect and admiration both within and outside Nigeria.

He assured the NAF delegation that NAN remains ever ready to deploy its vast media network in support of national security messaging.

“Your request for greater collaboration is granted.

“NAN, just like the air force, is concerned about integrity; yours is the integrity of the nation, and ours is the integrity of news.

“The air force has always stood out—from their discipline and elegance to their technological edge and public relations.

“NAN has over 500 correspondents across the country and foreign bureaus in New York, Côte d’Ivoire, Johannesburg, and plans to reopen offices in London, Moscow, and Beijing.

“Whatever message you want out there, whether to the local or international audience, we are ready to deploy our resources to help you win hearts and minds,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has approved the promotion of 30 Controllers of Corrections (CCs) to the rank of Assistant Controller General (ACGs), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).

The Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Abubakar Umar, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja.

Umar said that the decision was in line with the commitment to merit-based advancement, professional excellence, and the continuous strengthening of leadership within the NCoS.

“Among the newly promoted officers are 27 general duty officers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and operational competence in various formations across the country.

“In addition, three professional officers have also been elevated in recognition of their outstanding services and specialised contributions in the areas of Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing, and Public Health,” he said.

Umar said that promotion exercise reflected the ongoing reform agenda in the service, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

This, he said, was under the leadership of Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose unwavering commitment to reposition the service for greater efficiency and professionalism is unprecedented.

Reacting, the Controller General of Corrections (CGC), Sylvester Nwakuche, congratulated the newly promoted senior officers.

Nwakuche urged them to redouble their effort to service delivery, strategic leadership, and the core mandates of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates.

He emphasised that the promotion was not only a reward for past performance but also a call to higher responsibility in line with global best practices in correctional management.

He said that the service remained committed to building a motivated, disciplined, and professional workforce capable of meeting the complex demands of modern corrections and public safety. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Fatima Sule Abdullahi/Ismail Abdulaziz

By Sumaila Ogbaje

A Defence and Security Tech Expert, Zulaykhah Aileru, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise local production of military equipment rather than depending heavily on foreign suppliers.

Aileru, a Certified Protection and Security Professional (PSP, CPP), made this call in her opinion titled, “Africa’s Defence Dilema” made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said the continent’s prolonged reliance on arms imports had hampered technological growth, drained economic resources, and compromised national sovereignty.

According to her, in spite of spending billions of dollars on defence in the past decade, much of Nigeria’s security procurement still came from foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), leaving the country vulnerable in times of crisis.

Aileru said that during Nigeria’s peak conflict with Boko Haram, the country struggled to acquire essential weapons after the United States refused to sell due to human rights concerns.

“From 2016 to 2022, Nigeria spent nearly 20 billion dollars on defence and security, largely on foreign procurement. In just the first quarter of 2025, arms imports exceeded ₦22.7 billion.

“At a moment of urgent need, we were left scrambling. This is the risk of overdependence on foreign allies for critical national defence,” she said.

Aileru said Nigeria had begun to lay the groundwork for a domestic defence industry through Executive Order 5, which directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to prioritise indigenous technologies and local content.

She noted that this policy had led to fresh partnerships between the Ministry of Defence and private sector innovators, as well as renewed investments in institutions like DICON, NASENI, and NOTAP.

“The real momentum is coming from public-private partnerships.

“Today, some of Nigeria’s most advanced defence solutions, from drone surveillance to smart armour are coming from local companies,” she said.

Aileru, however, identified structural challenges such as lack of transparency in procurement, weak intellectual property protection, slow testing approval cycles and limited financial incentives for local defence entrepreneurs.

She advocated tax breaks, export credits, and streamlined regulatory frameworks to boost indigenous capacity and attract investment into the sector.

She added that a homegrown defence ecosystem would reduce external risks, retain economic value, and allow faster innovation in response to threats like insurgency, piracy, and cyber warfare.

“No sovereign nation should outsource its security entirely. Industrial sovereignty is non-negotiable.

“Africa is no longer asking whether we can build our own defence technology. That question has been answered. The real question is: will we act?” she added.

Aileru urged policymakers to view defence industrialisation not just as a security need but as a vehicle for economic transformation and continental stability. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigeria Forest Security Service (NFSS) says it has trained more than 24,000 new officers nationwide as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen forest security.

The Commander General of NFSS, Dr Joshua Osatimehin, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, during the closing of a five-day National Capacity-Building Workshop held simultaneously across six geo-political zones of the country.

Osatimehin said the training was the second quarterly exercise in the year, adding that it was also to improve local intelligence gathering in support of national security operations.

He explained that the exercise focused on refresher courses, inter-agency collaboration, and intelligence gathering, particularly in forested regions prone to criminal activities.

“This year’s second quarter training has been a huge success. We have trained more than 24,000 new recruits across the federation.

“These men have been screened by the police, Department of State Service (DSS), and traditional institutions before undergoing compulsory refresher courses conducted by various security agencies,” he said.

The NFSS commander general also said that the training took place concurrently in key locations within the zones.

He added that the workshop showcased the agency’s collaboration with constitutional authorities and law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the military.

“Security agencies came at different times to lecture our officers on actionable intelligence, inter-agency cooperation, and prompt communication with law enforcement to tackle forest-based criminal threats,” he said.

He revealed that 6,836 operatives were trained in FCT, 4,122 in Plateau, 6,856 in Gombe, and more than 9,000 in the South East.

On legislative backing for the service, Osatimehin appealed to President Bola Tinubu to sign the NFSS Establishment Bill into law, following its passage by both chambers of the National Assembly.

“We are using this opportunity to appeal to His Excellency, the President, to assent to the bill establishing the NFSS.

“This will formalise our operations and give our officers the confidence and legal backing to operate decisively against criminals within Nigeria’s forests,” he said.

He urged newly recruited officers to serve with courage and integrity, stressing that Nigeria needed heroes who would rise to the challenge of protecting forest resources and communities.

“Nigerians need heroes, and these officers must wear their uniforms with pride and honour,” Osatimehin added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commander-General (Intelligence), Dr John Metchie, says Nigerians should expect improvement in security, adding that NFSS is committed to tackling crimes in the forests.

Metchie appealed for continuous support from the citizens to the service in the fight against insecurity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has received international commendation for its leadership in implementing the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response-Action Plan (CHMR-AP).

The commendation was made during a high-level conference on civilian protection held in Tunis, Tunisia.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Sunday in Abuja.

Ejodame said the two-day conference, jointly organised by the United Nations (UN) and the Tunisian Defence Forces, brought together senior military officials, representatives of regional organisations, civil society, and international partners.

He said that the participants hailed NAF’s integration of civilian protection mechanisms into its operations, including leadership oversight, dedicated training, and structured data collection frameworks.

According to him, they also commended NAF’s efforts in mitigating target misidentification and confirmation bias, and its establishment of a strategic communications framework to manage civilian harm incidents.

“The conference featured over 100 participants including the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Mr Jean-Pierre Lacroix; Senegal’s Minister of Armed Forces, retired Gen. Birame Diop; and Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Defence, Mr Ernest Brogyi Genyi.

“The forum spotlighted NAF’s role in advancing civilian protection across Nigeria’s armed forces and reaffirmed the growing continental commitment to safeguarding civilian populations during military operations,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, said protecting civilians remained a core constitutional obligation of the military.

The CAS was represented by the Director of Cooperation and Coordination at the NAF Civil-Military Relations Branch, AVM Edward Gabkwet.

Abubakar noted that the CHMR-AP was being implemented with urgency, in recognition of the need to balance military operations with humanitarian considerations.

According to him, NAF’s operational effectiveness must never come at the expense of civilian lives, saying they were committed to ensuring that its air operations reflect both precision and compassion.

Abubakar explained that the NAF had established a CHMR Board to provide strategic oversight, activated a Civilian Harm Assessment Cell to conduct investigations, and created a dedicated department at the Air Warfare Centre to lead capacity-building efforts.

He added that field engagements were ongoing to integrate civilian protection principles into operational planning and execution. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba