17th August, 2017
Airports Emergency Rescue Team at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja (NAIA), has carried out an air crash simulation (mock) to test the readiness of the airport workers on emergency response.
Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
She said that the exercise was aimed at examining the level of preparedness of all response agencies at the airport.
She quoted the Director of Airport Operations, FAAN, Mr Rabiu Yadudu, as saying that the exercise was in fulfilment of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), regulations on safety and emergency response in Nigerian airports.
Yadudu said the NCAA regulations stipulated that such simulation exercise be carried out in every airport once in two years.
He said the outcome of the exercise had shown that Abuja airport was ready to handle any emergency, adding that all the relevant response agencies had demonstrated their commitment to handle emergencies.
“The exercise is meant to confirm that FAAN has the right equipment, manpower and strategy to perform its statutory duties.
“This exercise is also necessary in ensuring the certification of the airport.
“From this exercise, the airport is ready for any emergency even though we are not praying for accident but we must have emergency plan.
“A similar exercise took place at the Lagos Airport about two weeks ago and the result was impressive,” he said.
Mr Mahmud Sani, Airport Manager, NAIA, also said the exercise was meant to test the safety and emergency plan of the airport in preparation for its certification.
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Sani added that the exercise was aimed at examining how the response agencies manage and respond to emergencies at the scene of accident.
According to him, what happened today is part of the safety requirements in civil aviation and it is a very important exercise.
Mr Odunayo Mohammed, Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standard, NCAA, said the mock exercise was part of the NCAA’s requirements for certification of airports.
Mohammed added that the aim of the simulation was not to give pass mark but to ensure safety standards were maintained in all airports.
According to him, accidents are unexpected occurrences and we must be prepared at all times, reasons this simulation exercise is required.
Also, Mr Rimdap Dontor, Deputy General Manager, Airport Response and Fire Services, FAAN, said the exercise was meant to test the emergency procedures at the airport.
Dontor said the air crash simulation was to also help to ascertain the level of coordination among the response teams at the scene of accident.
He said that the exercise was carried out by the Airport Fire Service, FCT Fire Service and National Emergency Management Agency.
The others were the Police, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Aviation Security and Federal Road Safely Corps.
“We have carried out this exercise in fulfilment of Part 12 of NCAA regulations and it has been successfully.
“FAAN, hereby, assures airport users and the general public that it will continue to deliver on its core mandates of ensuring safety and security at all the nation’s airports,” Dontor said.