Nigeria, US Reaffirm Commitment to Smarter Firepower, Civilian Protection

T The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the United States Government have renewed their pledge to enhance smarter firepower delivery and safeguard civilian lives, reinforcing bilateral cooperation in modern counter-terrorism and peace support operations.

This was highlighted on 9 September 2025, during a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, by a delegation from the United States Institute of Security Governance led by retired Major General Miguel Castellanos.

Air Marshal Abubakar applauded the impact of the ongoing US-supported Air-to-Ground Integration (AGI) programme, noting that it has significantly boosted the NAF’s precision strike capability while reducing risks to non-combatants.

“The programme has sharpened our capacity to deliver firepower with precision and restraint,” Abubakar stated, stressing that US support has been pivotal to this achievement.

In response, Major General Castellanos commended the NAF’s professionalism and leadership, lauding Nigeria’s growing influence in advancing Civilian Harm Mitigation (CHM) within military operations.

“What we are developing together is more than operational capability — it is a system that ensures effectiveness whilst protecting civilian populations,” Castellanos said. He reaffirmed the US Government’s readiness to sustain technical support, training, and advisory services to consolidate the gains of the AGI programme.

Both parties underscored that the ultimate goal of the AGI programme is to institutionalise enduring joint processes across Nigeria’s Armed Forces, enabling them to decisively counter emerging threats while upholding humanitarian standards.

The meeting reaffirmed the deepening Nigeria–US defence partnership and mutual commitment to precision targeting, inter-agency collaboration, and stronger civilian protection — critical pillars in strengthening modern military effectiveness.

Source: X | @NigAirForce