NAF: Effective Communication Now Operational Necessity, Says Air Chief

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has stressed that effective public communication has become an operational necessity in the fight against terrorism, warning that misinformation, disinformation and hostile narratives can undermine military operations and public confidence.

Aneke stated this while declaring open the 2026 Directorate of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Annual Media Workshop and Meeting with Information Officers, themed: “Enhancing Strategic Media Operations of Nigerian Air Force Public Relations and Information Personnel Through Capacity Building in Crisis Management Skills.”

The Air Chief, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, AVM Abubakar Yaro Abdullahi, said the workshop was timely and relevant given the increasingly complex, dynamic and contested information environment.

He said news now travels at unprecedented speed, while misinformation, disinformation and hostile narratives continue to pose challenges to military operations and public confidence.

“In such an environment, effective public communication is no longer merely supportive; it is an operational necessity that contributes directly to mission success,” he said.

The CAS tasked information officers to move beyond issuing press releases and organising media engagements, urging them to embrace their role as strategic communicators responsible for shaping public understanding of military operations and strengthening confidence in the Nigerian Air Force.

“You are strategic communicators entrusted with shaping public understanding of our operations, projecting the professionalism of our personnel, preserving institutional credibility, and strengthening public trust in the Service,” he said.

Aneke added that every communication, media engagement and response to a crisis must reflect accuracy, professionalism, integrity and timeliness.

He said strategic communication was indispensable to the vision of the Nigerian Air Force because operational success must not only be achieved but also communicated purposefully, responsibly, truthfully and effectively to internal and external audiences.

The CAS commended the Director of Public Relations and Information and members of the organising committee for convening the workshop, describing it as an important platform for professional development, innovation and institutional learning.

He urged the organisers to sustain the initiative, noting that the Nigerian Air Force must remain proactive in communicating its activities with credibility, transparency and strategic intent as security challenges continue to evolve.

“We must continually improve our ability to engage stakeholders, counter misinformation, manage crises effectively and reinforce public confidence in the Service,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the nature of warfare had changed, with military operations now being contested not only on the battlefield but also in the information environment.

He said what people believe, see, hear and share could significantly influence the outcome of an operation, almost as much as events on the battlefield.

Ejodame cautioned that a single careless communication could undermine years of institutional credibility, urging participants to remain uncompromising on accuracy, integrity, discipline and credibility.

“We must be innovative, but never reckless. We must be fast, but never careless. We must be transparent, but never compromise operational security. And we must always remember that credibility is earned slowly, but can be lost in a moment,” he said.

The DOPRI director further noted that the communication environment would continue to evolve with the emergence of new technologies, platforms, threats and audiences.

He, therefore, urged Nigerian Air Force public relations and information personnel to remain adaptable and proactive.

“We therefore cannot afford to remain static. We must remain ahead of the curve,” he said.