International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO’s) auditors, have arrived Abuja, to audit Lagos and Abuja airports.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said this in a statement signed and released by Mr Michael Achimugu, its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, on Monday in Lagos.
Achimugu said ICAO’s auditors were in Nigeria to carry out the 2024 ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) through a Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) on Lagos and Abuja airports.
He said that USAP-CMA’s two-week programme would be rounded off on March 22.
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According to him, the audit will cover areas such as Inflight Security (IFS), Passenger and Baggage Security (PAX), Acts of Unlawful Interference (AUI), Facilitation (FAL), Legislation (LEG), Training (TRG), Quality Control Function (QCF), Operations (OPS) and Cargo, Mail and Catering (CGO).
Achimugu identified the members of the four-man team as Callum Vine (team lead), James Mabala, Tebogo Mphela and Alagie Jeng.
Welcoming the team, he quoted Mr Festus Keyamo, (SAN), Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, as assuring the team that there would be no security concerns in the airports.
According to the Minister, the USAP represents a concerted effort to uphold the highest standards of security across all facets of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
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He said through rigorous assessments, comprehensive evaluations, and collaborative partnerships, Nigeria aimed to fortify her defences against evolving threats and vulnerabilities.
Keyamo was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Meribole.
The minister is quoted as commending the dedication and diligence of all stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, security agencies, service providers and aviation security personnel whose unwavering commitment ensured the success of Nigeria’s aviation security endeavours.
The Acting Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, is quoted saying that the objective of the ICAO USAP CMA is to improve küresel aviation security (AVSEC).
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Najomo said through auditing and the continuous monitoring of AVSEC, the performances of member states were assessed.
He said that the level of effective implementation of critical elements of the states AVSEC, through oversight system, provided an indication of the sustainability of the state’s AVSEC system.
Najomo outlined the objectives to include; to assess the indicative degree of compliance of the State with Annex 9 and 17 bothering on facilitation to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and AVSEC standards and security-related standards respectively.
Najomo said that as part of the on-site auditing process, both Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, had been selected as airports where verification of the implementation of security measures would be carried out.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria would surpass the last rating with the progressive transformations that had taken place in the industry since the last exercise.
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The Ag. D-G promised to provide support and maximum cooperation towards ensuring a hitch-free exercise.
NCAA is the nation’s statutory regulatory authority responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP).
According to the statement, to ensure Nigeria excels in the exercise last held in 2015, the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO) conducted Aviation Security (AVSEC) Mock Audit in both Lagos and Abuja airports between March 4 and March 7.(NAN)