Nigeria is expected to receive a full report of the just concluded International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Security Audit of the nation’s airport within 60 days, according to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Mrs Obiageli Orah, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, made this known in a statement, made available to newsmen on Saturday in Lagos.
Orah quoted the Team Lead of the ICAO auditors, Mr Callum Vine, as giving the information during the audit debrief after conclusion of the exercise.
She also said that the debriefing indicated that Nigeria will, after receipt of the report, have 30 days to make comments and then file its plan on compliance in any observed gaps with the organisation.
The team of auditors undertook the 2024 ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) through Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) for Lagos and Abuja airports.
Orah said that the two-week exercise ended on Friday, and the team lead, during the debriefing, praised Nigeria’s robust policies on airport security.
She also quoted Vine as acknowledging the speed with which the personnel dealt with identified deficiencies without complaints.
According to Orah, the objective of the USAP-CMA is to promote global aviation security through continuous auditing and monitoring of member States’ aviation security performance.
It is to enhance their aviation security compliance and oversight capabilities, by regularly and continuously obtaining and analyzing data on member States’ aviation security performance.
This also includes the level of implementation of the critical elements of an aviation security oversight system and the degree of compliance with the Standards of Annex 17, Security and the relevant security-related Standards of Annex 9, Facilitation, as well as associated procedures, guidance material, and security-related practices.
Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the FAAN, is quoted as saying that the Authority would use the results of the audit as a roadmap for continuous improvement in the services it renders to airport users and stakeholders.
Kuku, according to the statement, urged all stakeholders to collaborate closely, share best practices, and remain vigilant in upholding the highest standards of security in the Nigerian aviation industry.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, who represented the Minister, and the Acting Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, were listed as being present during the debriefing.
