Aviation stakeholders harp on Airport, Air Safety, continuous training and retraining of staff

Commissioner, AIB, Mr. Akin Olateru and the MMIA Airport Manager, Mrs. Victoria ShinAba at the FAAN Safety Week event in Lagos.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika says for any organization to remain relevant, it must focus on research, re-evaluation as well as training and retraining of its workforce.

He also harped on stakeholders engagement as fundamental to the sustenance of the aviation industry.

The Minister stated this at a week-long Safety event put together by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN in Lagos.

He was represented by the Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, Mr. Akin Olateru.

The AIB boss stressed that, the Bureau was open for synergy on air safety and emergency response, stressing that the organization would continue to create enlightenment for airlines and passengers to ensure safe flight.

In his address of welcome, the Managing Director, FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu says safety cannot be improvised as it was essential for all stakeholders in the air transport chain to be exposed to constant training and retraining in order to sustain the business.

Yadudu, who was represented by the Airport Manager, Murtala Mohammad international Airport, Lagos, Mrs Victoria Shin Aba, noted that safety remained the key to guaranteeing safety when everyone was alive to observe safety practices in the aviation industry.

He explained that trained staff were competent to prevent accidents at airports while a well trained staff equals safe passengers adding that there was the need to promote safety conversations between airports and her stakeholders, contractors and concessionaires.

In her speech, the Regional General Manager, South West Airports and Manager MMIA, Mrs. Victoria Shin Aba said the theme of the safety week, ‘Training, Key for Resuming Activity’ was apt and consistent with challenges faced globally following the Covid 19 pandemic.

She disclosed that, the African Council International, ACI Africa had chosen the month of September 2021 to celebrate Safety Week in all airports in Africa.

According to her, the objectives for this year’s ACI safety week was to adopt an inclusive approach by involving all internal and external stakeholders whose activities impacted on safety directly or indirectly and to promote airport’s safety culture by sharing experiences and knowledge.

“The safety week is unique as it has provided the opportunity to collectively confront and address safety concerns resulting from the activities on the Airside for the safety and regularity of aircraft operations”.

Shin Aba said the airport was leveraging on the safety week to bring people together, inspire learning, and share values and experiences in a pleasant atmosphere.

“After successfully managing airport operations after the lockdown, MMIA achieved the airport health accreditation from the ACI international, an endorsement aligned with the FAAN commitment to protecting the health and safety of passengers, staff and stakeholders during the pandemic and beyond”. 

She urged stakeholders to uphold aviation safety as part of their responsibilities because safety remained everybody’s business.

On his part, the Director General, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMET, Professor Mansur Matazu, said the agency was committed to partnering with airports operators in the area of safety for passengers and the airlines  through adequate weather report.

He was represented by the agency’s Director Research and Training, professor Peters Ojiugo.

The FAAN Safety Week kicked off  simultaneously across airports the country with series of activities lined up for the week.