The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Air Force have reaffirmed their commitment to closer inter-agency coordination, with renewed emphasis on aligning diplomatic communication and military public information in response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
This followed a familiarisation and synergy visit by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, to the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, December 29, 2025, where he met with the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
According to the Ministry, the engagement provided a platform for what it described as “open, professional and forward-looking dialogue” on the increasing intersection between diplomacy and military communication, especially as security operations attract heightened international media attention.
Both institutions agreed that modern security threats, largely characterised by asymmetric and non-conventional warfare, now demand not only operational responses but also carefully coordinated public messaging.
Speaking during the engagement, Air Commodore Ejodame said Nigeria’s security environment presents unique communication challenges.
“We are largely confronted with asymmetric and guerrilla-style threats where hostile elements operate within civilian populations,” he said. “This reality complicates both military operations and public communication, and increases the sensitivity of information released to the public.”
He explained that the difficulty in clearly distinguishing combatants from non-combatants requires extreme caution in public disclosures, as communities being protected may also be infiltrated by violent actors.
From the diplomatic perspective, Ebienfa stressed the importance of calibrated and coordinated messaging, particularly on issues involving international partners and sensitive security operations.
“Uncoordinated, speculative or premature statements, especially during rapidly evolving crises, can elevate operational matters into diplomatic issues before all facts are fully ascertained,” he warned.
Drawing from recent experiences, the Foreign Affairs spokesperson noted that gaps in inter-agency communication had, in some cases, fuelled media speculation, heightened public anxiety and triggered avoidable diplomatic pressure.
Air Commodore Ejodame also underscored the delicate balance between transparency and operational security.
“Certain information cannot be made public without risking mission integrity, intelligence assets or the safety of our personnel,” he said. “At the same time, delayed or insufficient communication can create information vacuums that are quickly exploited by misinformation and hostile narratives.”
Both spokespersons agreed that information warfare has become an integral dimension of modern conflict and warned against narratives capable of undermining the professionalism, capability and legitimacy of Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
The discussions further touched on geopolitical concerns, including public speculation about the intentions of foreign partners in counterterrorism cooperation.
“Such partnerships must be clearly communicated as collaboration, not dependency,” Ebienfa said, adding that evidence-based messaging and sensitivity to religious, regional and political dynamics were essential, particularly in conflict-affected communities.
The engagement concluded with a shared understanding that sustained institutional synergy between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Air Force is critical to effective national security management.
Both sides agreed on the need for early consultation on incidents with diplomatic implications, alignment of messaging and continuous professional interaction.
They also identified capacity-building initiatives, such as joint media-response simulations and regular spokesperson engagements, as practical steps toward strengthening whole-of-government coherence in crisis communication.
Describing the visit as “timely, constructive and forward-looking,” the Ministry said it reflects a shared commitment to integrated national response mechanisms in addressing Nigeria’s security and diplomatic challenges.