The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is poised to respond to the 21st century challenges of airport and passenger management. This was announced by the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, in her speech at the passing out parade ceremony held for newly-recruited Aviation Security Cadets at the Digital Bridge Institute, Lagos on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

Mrs Faithful A. Hope-Ivbaze, Ag. Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the STP 123 Course is a residential training programme with a duration of eight weeks, designed to help integrate new Cadets into the Civil Aviation Industry to implement, monitor and enforce Aviation Security measures proactively in accordance with locally approved regulations.

In her speech, the MD of FAAN told the cadets that the training was one of the steps being taken by the agency to ensure total safety at the airports.

“This ceremony not only marks a significant milestone in your careers but also in the journey of FAAN towards bolstering the nation’s aviation security.

“It is also one of our strategic responses to the increase in volume of passengers using our airports,” she said. 

Kuku charged them to put to good use all they learnt during the training programme, urging them to embody the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

She emphasised that globally, aviation business was hinged on security and safety, hence the aviation security department was very critical to passenger facilitation and airport operations.

“The MD/CE used the opportunity to express her appreciation, and indeed that of the entire management and staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to the  President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo, SAN, for their support and encouragement. 

“In attendance at the event were heads, and representatives of aviation parastatals and security agencies including the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the Nigerian Police Force, the State Security Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Port Health Service, amongst others,” said the statement.