News Highlights
- FAAN clarified that its firefighters’ training is a six-week hybrid programme combining virtual lessons, classroom teaching, and hands-on drills, not an online-only course.
- The Authority said the training complies with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 14 and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s guidelines, ensuring operational readiness and safety across airports.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has defended its proposed firefighters’ training programme, clarifying that the initiative is a comprehensive hybrid course, not an online-only exercise, as concerns continue to trail the plan within the aviation sector.
The clarification follows a March 11, 2026, report by The Guardian highlighting reservations raised by the Nigerian Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA) over the structure of the training.
In a statement signed by Henry Agbebire, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN said the programme combines virtual learning, classroom instruction, and intensive practical field drills within a structured six-week period.
According to the Authority, the blended format mirrors modern global best practices and is designed to enhance, not dilute, the operational competence of Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) personnel.
FAAN explained that while theoretical modules may be delivered online to improve efficiency and broaden participation, hands-on components such as live simulations, drills, and field exercises remain central to the curriculum.
The Authority further stressed that the training framework fully complies with international and national regulatory standards, including provisions of the International Civil Aviation Organization Annex 14 and guidelines issued by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, both of which mandate practical emergency response exercises.
Officials also noted that adopting a hybrid model would enable FAAN to train more personnel simultaneously while maintaining uninterrupted firefighting coverage across the country’s airports, an approach the agency says preserves operational readiness and safety standards.
FAAN reaffirmed its commitment to equipping aviation fire crews with the skills required to respond effectively to airport emergencies, insisting that safety considerations remain paramount in the design and implementation of the programme.
