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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has attributed effective public communication as a necessity to the success of military operations.
He said misinformation, disinformation and hostile narratives has continued to challenge military operations and public confidence.
He has therefore charged NAF information officers to go beyond issuing press releases and organising media engagements.
The CAS made this known while declaring open the 2026 Directorate of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Annual Media Workshop and Meeting with Information Officers with the theme “Enhancing Strategic Media Operations of Nigerian Air Force Public Relations and Information Personnel Through Capacity Building in Crisis Management Skills,” is both timely and relevant”.
Represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans(COPP), AVM Abubakar Yaro Abdullahi, the CAS said today’s information environment is increasingly complex, dynamic and highly contested.
According to him,
“News travels at unprecedented speed, while misinformation, disinformation and hostile narratives continue to challenge 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,”.
“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. Every communication, every engagement and every response to a crisis must therefore reflect accuracy, professionalism, integrity and timeliness,”.
Continuing, the NAF chief said “Strategic communication is indispensable to this vision because operational success must not only be achieved; it must also be communicated purposefully, responsibly, truthfully and effectively to our internal and external audiences to achieve desired NAF objectives,”.
He commended the Director of Public Relations and Information and members of the Organising Committee for putting together this important workshop and charged them to sustain the initiative as a vital platform for professional development, innovation and institutional learning.
He added “as we continue to confront evolving security challenges, the Nigerian Air Force must remain proactive in communicating its activities with credibility, transparency and strategic intent. We must continually improve our ability to engage stakeholders, counter misinformation, manage crises effectively and reinforce public confidence in the Service. Together, we can build a public relations and information system that reflects the professionalism, discipline and operational excellence for which the Nigerian Air Force is renowned,”.
