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Nigeria: Faan to Complete Certification, Licensing of Airports in 2009
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Leadership (Abuja)
9 May 2008
Posted to the web 9 May 2008
Ime Akpan
The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured that the certification of all its 21 airports by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in consonance with ICAO standards, will be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2009.
FAAN's director of Airport Operations, John Ezenwankwo, made the disclosure during the just concluded Airport Council International (ACI) working group and Board meeting held in Maputo, Mozambique.
Ezenwankwo revealed that with efforts put in place by the organisation and NCAA, the certification of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos would be concluded by July 2008 and would be followed by Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
He said that all the requisite documentation, personnel, equipment and infrastructure were being brought to a level acceptable to NCAA for certification.
Ezenwankwo further disclosed that Nigeria had already taken some measures in the Bird/Wildlife Hazard Control programme such as training, equipment acquisition and wildlife hazard assessment, among others, to close all safety gaps identified by NCAA in its thematic audit.
Apparently satisfied with the latest effort of FAAN, ACI advised other African countries to adopt the airport certification process of Nigeria and Tunisia in the development of their various airports certification.
It further urged other airports undergoing certification projects across the world to adopt practices such as personnel participation, personnel sensitisation, training and exchange programme which aided the airport certification process of Nigeria and Tunisia.
The ACI also considered the possibility of exploring solar energy for Airfield Lighting System at airports. The product, according to a research by Technology Support and Infrastructure Services, Carmanah "is the most cost effective alternative airfield lighting systems as it draws energy from the sun and does not require cables." These lighting systems are particularly suited for runway and taxiway edge lighting system.
Mr. Emeka Izuorah, a representative of the company, explained that solar airfield draws energy from the sun and does not fail while its benefits far exceed that of alternative power supply.
The Aviation Security Officer, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Regional Office, Nairobi, Mr. Justin Nyanja, disclosed at the meeting that the Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) of ICAO had carried out 187 audits of airports since December 2007, while 162 follow ups have been conducted on them.
The ACI, however, recommended that minimum safety standards set by ICAO should be looked into, while encouraging airports to move higher. Among such set standards is the minimum number of major fire tenders required for various categories of fire cover.
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Meanwhile, ACI is considering taking up the responsibility of certifying aerodromes, while IOSA will continue to certify airlines.
Nigeria was elected to the board of the ACI African region in 2007 in recognition of the country's contribution to airport development.
Consequently, the managing director of FAAN, Richard Aisuebeogun, will represent Nigeria on the board of ACI for the next three years.
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