The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) is not resting on its oars in tackling the issues of wildlife headlong  because of the danger it constitutes to aviation safety.Despite it numerous efforts,bird strikes are still ocucurring.

Speaking at aviation stakeholders in Lagos,Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria,Mrs.Olubunmi Kuku,said FAAN is engaging with communities and the neighbourhood on treatment of sewage to keep away birds.

In addition,it is also making sure that it is focusing on the grass management efforts and also starting a waste separation and recycling programme which is helping to make sure that FAAN is able to manage its environment.

Speaking on security,Kuku said FAAN has  deployed a number of explosive detection equipment screening devices  at some of our international airports, and still have a significant amount that is underway, so both for cabin as well as baggage.

“We have been able to strengthen the workforce of our aviation security personnel. We were actually able, for the first time last year, to train and recertify over 3,000 aviation security personnel that are actually being deployed.”

“Also from a capacity building perspective, we were able to train over 3,238 staff from a safety perspective. So this also includes operators and handlers who are working on the airside. We completed the recertification of both Murtala Muhammed International Airport(MMIA) and with the support of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. And there’s quite a number of work that is also going on to make sure that we can certify Portharcourt and Kano airports.”

“That work is actually ongoing. In addition, we also had emergency, so we also had emergency management and resilience programs, which we were recognized for by the Airport Council International. From a safety perspective as well, and of course, from a capacity-building perspective, we’re now deploying ICAO-trained Air Force programs locally.”

The airfield lighting,she said  is undergoing upgrades at both Lagos and Portharcourt.For the first time, Ilorin Portharcourt airports were  able to carry out night operations with hitch free, based on the upgrades that were done to the airfield lighting.

“We also recently opened up the car park in Abuja, the international car park, to ease congestion. The Abuja airport has very similar domestic traffic to Lagos, but as you all know, there is only one entrance that leads you into both domestic, international, GAT, and presidential, unlike Lagos.”

“So we do witness unprecedented traffic congestion. With the support of the commercial, the engineering, and the aviation security teams, and of course NCAA, we came up with modified plans to support us while major infrastructure projects are also going on. We have also started to deploy Wi-Fi at our airports. I know that NAMA has been working closely to collaborate on some, but in Lagos, We now have Wi-Fi at the airport.”