Experts on fire and disaster management has begun training staff of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on basic fire safety and firefighting techniques to curb incidences of workplace fire.

Mr Virgil Akama, the Managing Director, Assetbow Limited, a Private Firefighting Consultancy Firm, during the training on Friday in Abuja, said that engaging staff of NCAA Aerodrome Operations Department was apt.

Akama said that because the department was in charge of overseeing some major operational functions at airports in Nigeria, the training will ensure participants are conversant with practical firefighting techniques.

“They are currently being taught how to properly store and handle flammable materials, emergency response procedures, firefighting equipment usage and how to communicate/coordinate among team members during firefighting situations,” he said.

He said that this was ultimately aimed to reduce or completely eradicate the likely occurrences of fire incidences at the airport which could be devastating to the country.

“The effects of fire to the aviation industry could disable operations, lead to damage or loss of property, injury to persons or loss of life, suspension of flights, destruction of vital business records amongst others,” he stated.

The Expert opined that it was important to imbibe a culture of fire safety awareness and responsibility at the workplace to prevent and manage fire incidents effectively.

One of the Trainers, Mr Quintus Azogu, Federal Fire Service, Deputy Controller General (DCG) retired, engaged the participants on the inherent fire hazards and remedies in a typical airport facility.

Azogu further trained them on the elements of combustion, development and spread of fire, classification and fire extinction methods, hazard identification and incident prevention.

Mrs Nafisa Abdullahi, a participant and NCAA Assistant General Manager (AGM), said the training had so far impacted the knowledge of how to manage, mitigate and avoid fire.

“We at the Aerodrome department carry out oversight functions at the airport to make sure there are no violations which ensures smooth operations and proper safety procedures.

“As an aerodrome operator we don’t deal with fire as there’s a special department that deals with fire but we are here to do the basic fire training.

“Because, since we carryout oversight functions we need to know the basic information of what is to be done during firefighting and rescue operations,” she said.

According to Abdullahi, the participants comprised of officials from states offices and will train other colleagues who were unable to partake in the training.

Another participant, Mr Abdulbasit Abubakar said that the training will enable them enforce and ensure compliance of all safety regulations at the airport.

“Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has a fire safety department and this training will help us know what they are supposed to do so that we can monitor them effectively,” he said.

Abubakar said that because this was the first training in fire safety experienced by himself and his colleagues, the practical knowledge will enable the department carryout their functions effectively.