British Government partner FAAN, signs MoU
Prospective aviation security officers and those currently in full employment in the aviation industry can now heave a sigh of relief as the burden of expending huge foreign exchange for their training outside the country has reduced.
Thanks to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN as it Training school has now been recognized and certificated by the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO as a Security Training Center for the West African sub-region.
At the inauguration of the FAAN ASTC in Lagos by ICAO, the ICAO Regional Director, Mr. Mam Sait Jallow said after careful evaluation met all the requirements of ICAO.
He noted that it was necessary to evaluate each training center to determine its ability to provide sustainable high- level aviation security training at international, regional and national levels in accordance with established General criteria.
According to him, to continue to meet such requirements during the period of validity of the certificate or recognition,” maintaining the certificate therefore requires all stakeholders to redouble their efforts through the implementation of a coherent and comprehensive monitoring programme”.
Jallow said,”with the recognition of the ASTC in Nigeria, the network of aviation security training center now includes 35 centers wisely distributed in all ICAO regions, to provide aviation security training at the international (ICAO),, regional and National levels, to all categories of personnel involved or responsible for the implementation of security measures, policies and procedures in accordance with the strategic objectives to improve the level of implementation of Annex 17 standards”.
The ICAO Director commended the Federal Government for the unwavering support and the significant efforts made by the Director General of NCAA, Managing Director FAAN and their Management which had resulted in the high achievement.
In his speech, the Director-General, NCAA Captain Muktar Usman said the training facility was for the provision of AVSEC training courses for cater for the sub-region.
He said the endorsement of the FAAN ASTC by ICAO proved that the center was ready to contribute to the ICAO global aviation security training programme.
Usman observed that in Nigeria presently, there were five certified ICAO AVSEC instructors and over 60 qualified National AVSEC instructors that could be of serve at the center.
“It is hoped that the center will attract patronage from the airport communities of the west African sub- region and its environs thereby contributing to the development and improvement of aviation security training in the region and elsewhere”.
While welcoming the guests, the Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma said the center had the capacity to accommodate as many as possible willing to be trained in the school.
He also noted that, this would save a lot of foreign exchange for them and others who go out of the country to train their security personnel.
At the venue of the event, the British Government signed a memorandum of understanding with FAAN on Aviation Security.
While Mr. Dunoma signed on behalf of FAAN, Mr. Kenan Woods from the UK Department of Transportation signed on behalf of the British Government.
After the cutting of the cake for the inauguration of the center, there was a tour of the facility by dignitaries which includes the ICAO Regional Director West and Central Africa, Mam Sait Jallow, United Nations Counter terrorism trainer, Emma Watson, Kenan Woods, Permanent a Secretary Ministry of Aviation, Saibu Zakari, FAAN MD, Saleh Dunoma; DG NCAA, Captain Usman Muhtar, Directors in FAAN, the media among others.
