Chidoka wants better training for airport firemen

The Minister of Aviation, Mr. Osita Chidoka, on Monday visited the Lagos airport for the first time since he assumed office, where he undertook an official tour of the facilities and ongoing projects.

Chidoka, who was accompanied on the tour by all the six chief executive officers of the aviation parastatals, inspected some facilities and ongoing projects being handled by each of the agencies.

He, however, refused to talk to journalists during the tour, asking that he should not be quoted. He promised that he would talk to journalists and other stakeholders today (Tuesday).

Chidoka’s first port of call was the General Aviation Terminal, where he observed the ongoing remodelling activities. He, thereafter, visited the Fire Service Centre of the airport.

The minister was particularly not pleased with the poor quality of training of the firemen after he was told they had not attended any training in the past two years.

He also described as bad practice the situation where the aviation firemen were only trained to respond to aircraft emergencies, leaving out other situations like building fire.

“The current practice where you train yourself doesn’t sit well with me. We will have to appoint a third party to train you and certify you fit. That should be the practice and your promotion will be based on your training,” he said.

The minister also visited the site of Total Radar Coverage for Nigeria, the new VIP protocol lounge as well as the new international terminal currently being constructed with a loan from the Chinese government.

On leaving the terminal, he went to the old domestic terminal and asked that the underground car park, which has not been in use, should be opened. The place was flooded and stinking.

At the international terminal, Chidoka was conducted round by the Regional Terminal Manager, Mr. Noah Sanya, who pointed out the ongoing structures at the terminal.

The minister, however, expressed his displeasure with the traffic management at the terminal when he asked how inbound passengers were able to get vehicles to leave the terminal on arrival in the country.