United States Mission sensitizes Nigerian air force on operational safety
The United States Mission said a flight safety team from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAF) travelled to Abuja on May 16, 2022, to conduct a five-day military exchange programme to enhance the Nigerian Air Forceâs operational safety.
In a statement available to newsmen on Thursday the mission said: âThe safety team visited the NAF Institute of Safety (NAFIS) in Ipetu-Ijesa, which was the first-ever U.S. Air Force visit there.
âNAFIS is the formal school for Nigerian Air Force officers that run unit safety programmes and is responsible for maintaining a culture of safety throughout the service.
âThe United States has collaborated with the Nigerian Air Force, through USAFE-AFAF, on several safety related programs in the past.
âIn August 2021, a USAFE-AFAF safety team visited the 307 Executive Airlift Group to assess the safety program and make recommendations.
âShortly after, USAFE-AFAF taught 24 Nigerian Air Force officers a two-week formal safety course. In return, USAFE-AFAF sent two participants of the safety course to the United States to attend a U.S. Air Force International Safety Programme Officerâs Course at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

âThe United States is dedicated to supporting the Nigerian Air Force in its efforts to improve its operational safety. This priority was reiterated by U.S. Mission Nigeria at this yearâs âCountry Coordination Meetingâ between the U.S. and Nigerian militaryâ

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, commended the Nigerian Air Force on their continued efforts saying, âSafety is a universal concern for all aviators, regardless of nationality or crew position, and the U.S. is proud to collaborate with the Nigerian Air Force to help promote a culture of safety.â
It will be recalled some jets of the Nigerian Air Force had crashed in recent times, resulting in killing of the officers of the security agency.
