Lagos: The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has commended the personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) firefighters for professionalism in the February 23 airport fire. Its President, Mr. Ben Nnabue, in a statement, highlighted the importance of training and motivation in the effective response to the incident.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the fire at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Terminal One, which started at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, resulted in the destruction of millions of equipment. Nnabue praised the bravery displayed by the officers and other emergency responders, which ensured the safe rescue of all occupants within the terminal during the incident.
“We are grateful that no lives were lost, a testament to the high level of skill and dedication exhibited by these heroes,” Nnabue stated. He emphasized that the successful outcome underscores the impact of FAAN firefighters’ professional training and retraining programs, as well as the role of motivation in driving workers to exceed expectations, even to the extent of risking their lives.
Nnabue further noted that no machine or artificial intelligence could replicate the human experience, empathy, and sacrifice demonstrated by the officers during the emergency response. He expressed profound gratitude to the responders, stating, “To them, we say a resounding thank you.”
He also urged FAAN management to continue prioritizing staff training to ensure their skills align with ICAO, NCAA, and other aviation regulators’ standards. “As we always say, ‘Train aviation personnel and ensure the development and sustainability of the aviation sector,'” Nnabue concluded.