The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has launched its maiden Safety Management Systems (SMS) training for officers of air rank, in line with the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke. The two-day workshop, held from 9 to 10 December 2025, in collaboration with Asfaro Edu Safety Consult, follows recommendations from the July 2025 Safety Review Board to institutionalise SMS awareness at senior leadership level. Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the CAS affirmed the Service’s commitment to strengthening operational foresight, stating, “Safety is not just a procedure, it is leadership in action. This training reflects our resolve to anticipate risks, manage them early and safeguard our personnel, platforms and mission outcomes.”

Declaring the workshop open, the Superintendent of Standards and Evaluation, Air Vice Marshal Ebimobo Ebiowe., noted that the programme aligns with the CAS’s drive for a proactive, data-driven and accountability-focused safety culture across commands. He explained that the NAF is transitioning from a preventive to a predictive model that embeds risk management into planning and execution, anchored on the four pillars of SMS: Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance and Safety Promotion. He noted that, “We are building a safety architecture that sees ahead, learns ahead and acts ahead. Senior commanders will spearhead SMS application at all levels to ensure consistency, reporting integrity and improved operational resilience.”

AVM Ebiowe urged participants to apply SMS principles in decision-making and command responsibilities. He expressed confidence that the training would enhance safety reporting, strengthen compliance across aviation, ground and administrative operations, and bolster the NAF’s overall safety posture. He further encouraged attendees to share insights, engage actively and champion a Service-wide culture of vigilance, transparency and continuous improvement.

#NigerianAirForce #SafetyManagementSystems #SafetyCulture #AirPower #TrainingAndCapacityBuilding #StandardsAndEvaluation #AviationSafety #LeadershipDevelopment #CASVision #ProactiveSafety #NAFTransformation