The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has disclosed plans to support the transition of selected Nigerian airports, including Abuja and Port Harcourt, from firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to environmentally friendly fluorine-free alternatives.
The Director General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, when the NCAA hosted a mission of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) under the Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment (FIRE) Project at the NCAA headquarters in Abuja.
According to Najomo, the project would not only support feasibility studies but also phase-out plans for selected Nigerian airports, including Abuja and Port Harcourt.
He said the initiative is in line with the aviation industry’s increasing emphasis on safety and environmental sustainability, while assuring that the NCAA would collaborate with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), ICAO, UNEP, the Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders to ensure a safe and effective transition.
The Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, represented by the General Manager, Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Services, Mr. Rimdap Nantim, also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the project.
Kuku described the transition as an important step towards more sustainable airport firefighting operations, stressing that safety must remain central to the process.
The FIRE Project Coordinator, Mr. Eike Peltzer, said the initiative is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which has committed about $10 million to the project across five African countries—Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
He said the 60-month project covers about 40 airports and focuses on four key areas: developing a regulatory framework, transitioning from PFAS-containing firefighting foam, knowledge management and training, as well as monitoring and evaluation.
Peltzer added that the transition would require an assessment of existing firefighting systems and equipment, with the project supporting feasibility studies, phase-out planning and training to ensure that fluorine-free alternatives meet applicable aviation firefighting performance requirements.
The technical mission will also conduct physical inspections in Lagos and Port Harcourt as part of efforts to assess existing systems and facilitate Nigeria’s transition to fluorine-free firefighting foam.
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