By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
Abuja-The Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has on Friday received two awards won by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN), for improvements on safety and security.
The Minister who received the awards in his office in Abuja, stated that the mandate of the Ministry since taking over power, has been to improve on safety and security of Air transportation and facilitation of passengers, adding that efficient Air transportation has been the goal.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), won the two awards at the just concluded 27th Airport Council International, ACI-Africa Boards and Regional Committee Meetings, Conference and Exhibition with the theme, “Challenges of Safety and Security in African Airports”, which took place in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.
The awards won were; “The Best Improvement in Safety Award” of the Airports Council International, ACI-Africa Region which was won by the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, and the Certification of FAAN Training school as ICAO AVIATION SECURITY TRAINING CENTRE.
Furthermore, Sirika noted that he is humbled by the award, adding that it is a testimony that the Ministry is in the right direction.
According to him, “It is a little wonder that the world has noted these humble efforts of ours, to improve upon the safety and security of our industry. We have seen also how ICAO focused also on our efforts on security and the Training Center now becomes a Centre of Excellence, just like the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology has become Centre of Excellence from the same ICAO.
“As humbling as these awards may be, it is by no means a statement that we have gotten there yet, it is only saying that our efforts are being noted and that we are in the right direction. That we have left where the industry was and now we are moving forward”, he remarked.
While appreciating the management of FAAN for their efforts, he noted that it is never enough until they reach perfection and sustain the progress, urging the Director of FAAN and the team to do more.
Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO, FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma, stated that the award was won due to the Minister’s leadership guidance and encouragement, adding that the award is dedicated to Sirika and his team.
“I wish to assure the Honourable Minister that other Airports are encouraged and are working towards achieving same feat in the next assessment that will be conducted by ICAO and ACI”, he said.
He further noted that the awards came through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and assured that FAAN will continue to do its best to encourage airports under its management, so that they can put in their best and compete favourably with the Airports in this region.
It is pertinent to noted that the award entitles FAAN to fly the flag of ICAO in its Training School, under a strict guidance and ICAO has given FAAN a code of regulation for the flying of the flag.
