In its relentless drive to enhance frontline medical readiness, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified the training of its nurses in emergency preparedness and disaster response, reaffirming its commitment to saving lives both in combat and humanitarian settings. Held at 461 NAF Hospital, Kaduna, the 4-day intensive training programme was themed “Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response in the Nigerian Air Force: Empowering Nurses for Effective Response.” The exercise was organised by the Nigerian Air Force College of Nursing Sciences (NAFCONS) in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

More than just a training event, the programme reflects NAF’s broader strategic investment in operational excellence, humanitarian response, and medical resilience in high-risk environments. It equips nurses with the knowledge and hands-on skills to respond swiftly and effectively in war zones, natural disasters, and mass casualty incidents. Speaking at the event on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, the Command Medical Officer, Air Commodore Azubuike Chukwuka, emphasised the indispensable role of nurses in military operations. “Our nurses are not just caregivers, they are life-savers on the frontlines. Whether in peacetime or in war, their role is pivotal. By empowering them with advanced training, we strengthen the lifeline that supports both our troops and civilians in crisis.”

The initiative is part of a larger NAF plan to expand its medical response infrastructure, including specialised simulation-based training, mobile trauma units, and rapid deployment medical teams. For the NAF, airpower is more than a show of force, it is also about compassion, care, and courage delivered when it matters most. This latest effort underscores the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff to build a force that is as formidable in rescue as it is in combat, a true guardian of the nation’s peace, dignity, and humanity.