By Bavoriat Clara
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken a significant step towards strengthening operational safety with the inauguration of its first-ever Safety Management Systems (SMS) training programme for senior officers of air rank.
The two-day workshop, held from 9 to 10 December 2025, was organised in collaboration with Asfaro Edu Safety Consult and conducted in line with the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke. The initiative followed recommendations of the July 2025 Safety Review Board, which called for the institutionalisation of SMS awareness at the highest leadership levels of the Service.
Speaking on the importance of the programme, Air Marshal Aneke reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to proactive and effective safety governance. He described safety as a core leadership responsibility, stressing that the training underscores the Service’s resolve to anticipate risks, manage them early and protect personnel, platforms and mission outcomes.
Declaring the workshop open, the Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Ebimobo Ebiowe, said the programme aligns with the CAS’s vision of entrenching a proactive, data-driven and accountability-focused safety culture across all NAF commands. He explained that the Air Force is transitioning from a largely preventive approach to a predictive safety model that integrates risk management into all stages of planning and operations.
According to AVM Ebiowe, the new safety framework is anchored on the four pillars of Safety Management Systems: Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance and Safety Promotion. He noted that senior commanders are expected to spearhead the application of SMS principles at all levels to ensure consistency, integrity in safety reporting and improved operational resilience.
He further urged participants to apply the lessons from the training in their command responsibilities and decision-making processes. AVM Ebiowe expressed optimism that the initiative would enhance safety reporting, strengthen compliance across aviation, ground and administrative operations, and significantly improve the overall safety posture of the Nigerian Air Force.
Participants were also encouraged to actively engage during the sessions, share practical insights and serve as champions of a Service-wide culture founded on vigilance, transparency and continuous improvement.
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