Nigeria, US Deepen Military Partnership on Precision Firepower and Civilian Protection
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the United States Government have reaffirmed their strategic partnership to strengthen precision firepower delivery while enhancing civilian protection in conflict zones.
The renewed commitment came during a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, by a delegation from the United States Institute of Security Governance led by retired Major General Miguel Castellanos.
Speaking during the meeting at NAF Headquarters, Air Marshal Abubakar highlighted the progress achieved under the ongoing Air-to-Ground Integration (AGI) programme, which is supported by the United States. He noted that the initiative has significantly sharpened the NAF’s capacity to deliver precision strikes in support of ground forces while minimizing collateral damage.
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“The Air-Ground Integration programme has sharpened our capacity to deliver firepower at the right place and at the right time with precision and restraint,” Air Marshal Abubakar stated. “Beyond enhancing synergy across the Services, it underscores our unwavering commitment to safeguarding civilian lives in conflict zones. The technical and advisory support from the United States has been instrumental in making this progress possible.”
In his remarks, Major General Castellanos praised the NAF’s professionalism and reform-driven leadership, describing Nigeria as a regional leader in advancing Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM). He pledged continued US support in the areas of training, technical expertise, and advisory assistance.
“What we are developing together is more than operational capability — it is a system that ensures effectiveness while protecting civilian populations,” Castellanos said. “Nigeria’s leadership in embedding Civilian Harm Mitigation into its operations sets an important benchmark for the region, and the United States is proud to stand alongside as a partner.”
Both parties agreed that the ultimate goal of the AGI programme is to institutionalize enduring joint processes across Nigeria’s Armed Forces, enabling them to confront emerging security threats decisively while upholding humanitarian standards.
The meeting reaffirmed the deepening Nigeria–US defence partnership, with both sides committing to further collaboration in precision targeting, inter-agency synergy, and civilian protection — critical pillars of modern counter-terrorism and peace support operations.
