“According to the airfield review, the enhanced compliance culture and operational discipline across FAAN-managed airports demonstrate a growing commitment to safer airside environments nationwide.
“Speaking on behalf of members of the Aircraft Marshal Consultative Forum, Mr. Fortune Idu commended the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, for driving the reforms”.
Nigeria’s airports, particularly those operated by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), recorded notable improvements in airfield operations and apron management in 2025, following outcomes from the National Joint Apron Safety Workshop.
The development was disclosed in a communiqué issued by the Marshaller Consultative Forum at the end of the 1st National Joint Apron Safety Workshop, which reviewed airfield safety performance across the country.
Presenting the assessment, the convener of the workshop and forum member, Mr. Fortune Idu, said comparative reviews between 2025 and previous years showed measurable progress in apron safety operations. He noted that the improvements were reflected in successful NCAA safety audits and certification exercises at the Port Harcourt International Airport and other Nigerian airports.
According to Idu, the enhanced compliance culture and operational discipline across FAAN-managed airports demonstrate a growing commitment to safer airside environments nationwide.
Speaking on behalf of members of the Aircraft Marshal Consultative Forum, Idu commended the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, for driving the reforms.
He said Kuku has significantly reduced unnecessary crowding on airport aprons by enforcing strict compliance with standard operating procedures, while also improving the welfare of marshallers through regular training, eye checks and provision of essential work tools.
At the two-day apron safety operations workshop organised by FCI International at the NIGAV Expo Event Centre, the leader of the FAAN delegation and General Manager of Operations, Mrs. Joke Olatunji, described FAAN as a safety-driven organisation whose leadership has made safety a core operational brand.
She stressed that airfield operators play a critical role in aviation safety, noting that flight operations cannot thrive without a secure airside environment.
“There will be no operations when the airside is not safe. A safe airside guarantees a good flying experience”, Olatunji said.
She commended Idu for convening the workshop for airfield operators and stakeholders across government and the private sector, describing it as timely and strategic for strengthening industry collaboration.
Olatunji further acknowledged that since the establishment of the Marshaller Consultative Forum, FAAN’s Managing Director has taken safety reports seriously, using them to strengthen apron management practices nationwide.
She added that Kuku has encouraged strict adherence to standard operating procedures and urged all stakeholders to promptly report safety infringements on the airside, assuring that FAAN remains responsive in closing operational gaps where they exist.
The 2025 airfield assessment, stakeholders say, reflects FAAN’s growing momentum in building safer, more efficient and internationally compliant airport operations across Nigeria.