The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has launched an internal campaign aimed at eradicating cross-border smuggling, citing its harmful effects on national security and economic stability.
The call comes with a stern warning to personnel, especially those in the Niger Delta, against collusion or wrongdoing that undermines Nigeria’s interests.
The campaign, part of the strategic framework set by Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, got underway with a sensitisation lecture at the NAF Base in Port Harcourt.
The event was themed “The Effects of Cross-Border Smuggling and its Impact on National Security and the Image of the NAF.”
Air Vice Marshal Jibrin Usman, the Air Provost Marshal, addressed the audience, underlining how smuggling, including oil bunkering, arms trafficking, and illicit trade in contraband, provides funding for criminal networks and terrorist groups.
He reiterated that such activities erode public trust and weaken the legitimacy of military institutions.
Usman emphasized that the NAF will enforce a “zero tolerance” policy. Any personnel found complicit in smuggling or related illegal undertakings will face disciplinary measures under military law.
He described such actions as a betrayal of both uniform and principle.
Particularly, NAF personnel from the Niger Delta were urged to remain vigilant and uphold ethical conduct in their operations to protect the country’s territorial integrity and economic interests.
The lecture was also tied to the CAS’s broader command philosophy, which includes “Deliberate Training and Mission-Oriented Force Development”, an initiative focused on reinforcing the operational readiness of the force while embedding strong ethical standards.
To symbolize its commitment, the NAF closed the session with a tree-planting ceremony, reaffirming the service’s dedication to security, order, and environmental responsibility.
See also:
Tinubu’s Daughter’s Iyaloja Installation Sparks Controversy In Benin
Inflation May Fall To 14% By 2026 If Reforms Persist — Afreximbank
Drone Strike Devastates Ukrainian Farm, Kills 13,000 Pigs
Mbah Urges Nigerians to Embrace Unity, Hope On 65th Independence Day
Nigeria, China To Boost Economic Ties At 2025 China Commodities Expo
