No fewer than 20 aviation firefighters, sponsored by the Ekiti State Government and the Theophilus Danjuma Airport in Taraba State, have graduated from the Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting School of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.
The trainees successfully finished a rigorous, simulation-based aircraft firefighting programme aimed at enhancing aerodrome emergency response capabilities as part of the ongoing certification process for both airports. They were awarded their certificates at the graduation ceremony over the weekend.
The Head of Department, Fire and Safety, at Theophilus Danjuma Airport, Umar Aliyu, said the training was critical to securing the airport’s operational licence, explaining that although the personnel had earlier completed theoretical firefighting courses, the NCAT programme provided the hands-on simulation training required for certification.
He said that the airport management carried out the training as part of the requirements stipulated by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
He said, “As part of the licensing process, the NCAA requires practical firefighting competence. This training has equipped our officers with skills in internal and external aircraft fire suppression, handling fuel spill incidents, engine fires, and rescue operations in smoke-filled cabins.”
Also, Senior Fellow and Airport Budget Officer, Ekiti State Agro-Allied International Airport, Mr Oluwafemi Orebiyi, said that of the 20 graduates, 13 were sponsored by the Ekiti State Government for the airport. Mr Orebiyi also emphasised that the training was undertaken following recommendations by the NCAA as part of the airport’s regulatory compliance requirements.
“When we began the airport project, the NCAA advised us to train technical personnel and recommended NCAT to us. This is a continuous process, and we will continue to expand it,” he said.
He commended the Ekiti State Government for investing heavily in aviation infrastructure, noting that the airport’s facilities were being positioned to meet international standards.
Furthermore, one of the participants, Ms Easter David from Ekiti State, said the live fire simulation helped build confidence and exposed trainees to real-life emergency scenarios they are likely to encounter on the job. She said that the training was expected to enhance emergency preparedness at both airports and strengthen aviation safety standards in line with regulatory requirements.
Additionally, the Dean of the Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting School, Mr Nasir Gungura, described the graduation as another milestone in Nigeria’s drive towards self-reliance in aviation safety training. According to him, the graduates underwent rigorous practical sessions using NCAT’s aircraft firefighting simulator, the only facility of its kind in Nigeria.
He said, “This simulator is helping to localise training that was previously conducted abroad. Before now, most airport firefighters, particularly from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, travelled outside the country for this mandatory practical training. Now, we have the capacity here.”
Gungura explained that the simulator, acquired in 2019, became fully operational after completing documentation and certification procedures. “In the last two years, the school has increased the number of trained personnel, graduating dozens yearly,” he said, adding that the facility features multiple internal and external fire scenarios and can simulate different aircraft engine types, including Boeing 737, CRJ, and turboprop engines.
