FAAN boss emphasises on training, retraining of stakeholders in air transport

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and the need to ensure stakeholders in the air transport chain receive constant training.

This was disclosed by FAAN MD, Captain Rabiu Yadudu, at the 2021 Safety Week organised by the Airports Council International (ACI) and held on Tuesday at the Murtala Mohammad International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

Yabudu, represented by the Airport Manager, Murtala Mohammad International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Mrs Victoria Shin-Aba, noted that safety is key and can only be guaranteed when everyone observes safety practices.

He explained that trained staff are guaranteed to prevent accidents at airports, adding that a well-trained staff equals safe passengers.

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

Mrs Shin-Aba disclosed that ACI Africa chose September 2021 to celebrate Safety Week in all airports in Africa.

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

The MMIA boss noted that the safety week is unique. 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 shared values and experiences in a pleasant atmosphere.

Training, according to her, remains a critical requirement in the aviation industry, noting that training was also instrumental to the airport restart operations after the lockdown.

She disclosed that all returning staff went through training after the long period of lockdown due to the global pandemic, adding that stakeholders in the aviation industry must be regularly and adequately trained for safety and business sustainability.

She explained that 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 passengers, staff, and stakeholders’ health and safety during the pandemic and beyond.

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