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In a simulated emergency response drill, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) put its crisis management skills to the test at Enugu’s Akanu Ibiam International Airport yesterday.
The mock air crash exercise aimed to evaluate the agency’s preparedness in handling catastrophic events and ensuring swift, effective reactions.
The airfield became a dynamic staging ground for a mock emergency response, as a diverse coalition of agencies joined forces to simulate their response to a disaster scenario – their coordinated efforts underscoring the critical importance of teamwork in saving lives.
The mock exercise drew a veritable who’s who of emergency responders, featuring the likes of the Federal Road Safety Corp, Ports Health, FAAN’s Fire Service Department, Aviation Security, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, National Emergency Management Agency, and the Civil Defence – all working in harmony to test their collective mettle.
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Wrapping up the mock air crash exercise, Southeast Airport Regional Manager Hillary Umunna highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the NCAA’s comprehensive safety and emergency response guidelines, underscoring the airport’s commitment to excellence in crisis management.
“The exercise allows us to check the time for arrival of medical officers, participation of all the responders, their speed and level of proficiency to carry out their responsibility,” he said.
“It also helps us to ascertain the level of coordination among the response teams at the scene of accident”.
Hope Oyekanmi, Head of Safety at AIIA, shared insights into the airport’s training regimen, revealing that the comprehensive exercise is a biennial fixture, augmented by regular partial drills to ensure that safety protocols remain fresh and effective.
In her commendation of the officers’ prompt response, Hope Oyekanmi also struck a note of constructive criticism, acknowledging that despite their impressive display, there remains ample opportunity for refinement and enhancement.
