The Nigeria Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA) wants partnership with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in a bid to promote efficiency in firefighting operations.
President of NAFSA, Comrade Sunday Ugbeikwu, who stated this during a courtesy visit to Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General Civil Aviation (DGCA) in Abuja said, its partnership with the regulatory agency was aimed at achieving growth in the Nigerian aviation industry.
Comrade Ugbeikwu explained that, as a professional body and branches across the airports, they have a role to play in Nation building and their aims and objectives is to uplift and improve the quality of fire service.
He emphasized that, its meeting with the NCAA hoped to achieve effective collaboration, familiarisation and good rapport with the regulatory agency.
“We want to collaborate with NCAA because it is a major agency in the sector. There is no airport that exists anywhere in the world without firefighters. We want to have a strong relationship with every important associations or organisations in the sector.”
In the spirit of partnership, the NAFSA President canvassed for NCAA’s aerodrome firefighters to be part of the membership of the association, saying that this was within their jurisdiction.
Also speaking at the meeting, Comrade Emmanuel Akinwunmi, the General Secretary, NAFSA, emphasised the critical roles firefighters play in sustaining safety of humans and equipment in the industry.
He specifically recalled the role of NAFSA during the ill-fated Sosoliso Flight 1145 and Bellview Flight 210 crashes, which occurred on August 22, 2005 and December 10, 2005, respectively.
Responding, the DGCA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, while promising collaboration with NAFSA, applauded the efforts of the current NAFSA leadership in promoting professionalism and collaboration in the sector.
Capt. Nuhu Nuhu represented by the Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, NCAA Engr. Tayo Odunowo, challenged the NAFSA leadership to seek more collaborations and Memoranda Of Understandings (MoU) with the other relevant authorities in the sector, saying that this would lead to attainment of common goals.
General Manager, Aerodrome Standards, NCAA, Mr. Adebayo Oladipo, expressed delight with the association for its intent to seek collaboration while the Assistant General Manager, Aerodrome Standards, NCAA, Mr. Adeniyi Ogunba, enjoined the current leadership to push for entrenchment of professionalism among its members.
