To emphasise the importance of safety, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has organised an Aircraft Emergency Table Top Excercise to educate aviation stakeholders on how to manage aircraft emergencies and disasters.
During the Excercise which took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Conferences centre in Lagos, the NAMA Director of Air Traffic Services,Tayo John who was represented by the General Manager, Search and Rescue (SAR), Sunday Iwalaiya disclosed that the Emergency Table Top Excercise was in two sessions: “Search and Rescue Units and Responsibilities” and “Arrangement Into Groups of Search And Rescue Units According
To Their Responsibilities” .
He urged all agencies present to take aviation safety very seriously as it concerns all stakeholders .
“We cannot start the exercise without knowing clearly the responsibilities of each agency. Any Search and Rescue involving an aircraft is aeranautical emergency. To get fruitful result, we want to seperate stakeholders meeting and the aircraft emergency Excercise”.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) South West Regional General Manager, Olatokunbo Arewa appreciated NAMA for organising the Excercise.He encouraged the stakeholders to take the opportunity to learn about aviation safety.
“This is a thing we should all support. Although, no one want emergencies to happen but it does happen. I want all stakeholders to take notes to what so as to know what to do when emergencies occur.”
Alhaji Safo Baba Jiya, who represented Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also thanked NAMA for organising the Exercise and explained that NCAA also prioritises safety .
“Safety is paramount for us at NCAA. We are here to learn. Let us be mindful on what we are doing here today”.
n his remark, Quality Assurance Manager (QAM) , MMIA, Onohwoakpo Chris said that although many stakeholders don’t want emergency situations but that, “We gathered here to learn on what we don’t ever want to happen in aviation”.
Head of Search and Rescue Unit, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA, Lagos Operations Office), Mrs. Ibitayo Adenike also learn more from the exercise.
“ The Last disaster in global aviation wasn’t expected. We have representatives of practically all airlines. I appreciate the efforts put in this exercise. Let us put our minds together to synergise and identify areas of shortcomings and make progress so that whenever we there is an emergency, we will do the right thing”.
Engr. Jamin Olayinka Salami a representative of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), expressed gratitude for the exercises.
Salami, however, insisted that, what most importantly is how do we prevent disasters. It will help us to prepare more for eventually.
Search Mission Coordinator, MMIA, Igberaese David, explained the importance of the exercise. He noted that NAMA has been conducting joint operation with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), but the decision was taken to come together for a better performance when incidence occurs.
“The goal is rescuing the greatest number of people in the shortest possible time. According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), 24 hour watch must be provided in the Search and Rescue operations. Search and Rescue is everybody is everybody’s business because when it occurs in remote areas, the farmers eventually become the first responders.”, Igberaese added.
Agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Department of State Security (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Fire Service (FFS), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management (LASEMA), Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASANBUS), Nigerian Police Force (NPF) were all represented.
