The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to take aviation security to the next level by ensuring that it contributes immensely to the growth of the industry at the global stage.
Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of State for Aviation, made statement in Egypt while addressing the global aviation industry at the ongoing Regional Ministerial Conference on aviation security titled: ‘Global Aviation Security Plan (GASeP): The Roadmap to Foster Aviation Security in Africa and the Middle East.’
He assured that Nigeria would take seriously any task, role or assignment assigned to the country in terms of security, assuring that Nigeria would not be the weak link in the global aviation security.
He emphasised that the action of the government had been demonstrated by the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the improvement of the nation’s Aviation Security (AVSEC).
He informed that AVSEC personnel are now arms bearing and have been committed to series of trainings.
Sirika also seized the opportunity to appreciate organisations that had been invaluable in the training of Nigeria’s aviation security personnel.
“We want to thank the United Nation Counter-Terrorism Department that conducted training twice in Nigeria recently and they will continue to provide that training. We are partnering with them to support us in the K-9 program that will improve security in Nigeria aviation.
“Furthermore, to ensure that there is institutional weight behind what we are doing, the Civil Aviation Act in Nigeria has just been reviewed and approved by the council of ministers under the leadership of the President and it is with the parliament for approval and passage.
“We have established training facilities in Abuja and Lagos by the help of United Nations Counter-Terrorism Department and we have also established a training department within the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority training center and with Nigerian College of Aviation Technology to further strengthen aviation security”, he said.
The participants in the three-day conference are the Ministers of Transport/Aviation, and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCS) of the International Civil Aviation, Organization (ICAO) Member States, Air Force Instruction (AFI) and AFI-MID Regional Organizations, Regional Civil Aviation bodies and international organizations including ICAO and United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UN‐CTED).
The conference compromises of two parts: a Senior Officials Meeting in which a draft regional roadmap will be developed while taking in account aviation security challenges and the targets of GASeP and the Ministerial Conference that will reaffirm the need to enhance implementation of international aviation security standard, according to ICAO website.
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