Ekiti, Taraba Airport Sponsor 20 Firefighters for NCAT Practical Certification Training

Twenty aviation firefighters sponsored by the Ekiti State Government and Theophilus Danjuma Airport in Taraba State have completed practical emergency-response training at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, as both airports progress toward regulatory certification.

The graduates trained at NCAT’s Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting School, where they underwent simulation-based exercises focused on aircraft fire suppression and rescue operations. The programme ended with a graduation ceremony over the weekend, where participants received certificates after completing the course.

Officials said the training forms part of the requirements set by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority for airport licensing. The Head of Department, Fire and Safety, at Theophilus Danjuma Airport, Umar Aliyu, said the officers had previously completed classroom-based modules, but the latest practical sessions were necessary for compliance and readiness.

"As part of the licensing process, the NCAA requires practical firefighting competence. This training has equipped our officers with skills in internal and external aircraft fire suppression, handling fuel spill incidents, engine fires, and rescue operations in smoke-filled cabins," Aliyu said.

Ekiti State Agro-Allied International Airport’s Senior Fellow and Airport Budget Officer, Mr Oluwafemi Orebiyi, said 13 of the 20 graduates were sponsored by Ekiti State. He said the decision followed NCAA guidance during planning and development of the airport’s technical workforce.

"When we began the airport project, the NCAA advised us to train technical personnel and recommended NCAT to us. This is a continuous process, and we will continue to expand it," Orebiyi said.

He added that the state government’s investment in airport infrastructure is aimed at meeting global operating standards and improving long-term service quality.

One trainee, Ms Easter David from Ekiti State, said the live-fire drills improved her confidence and better prepared participants for emergencies they may face in active aerodrome environments.

The Dean of NCAT’s Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting School, Mr Nasir Gungura, said the class marked continued progress in domestic capacity for safety training. He said the school’s aircraft firefighting simulator, acquired in 2019 and now fully operational, has reduced reliance on overseas practical training.

"This simulator is helping to localise training that was previously conducted abroad. Before now, most airport firefighters, particularly from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, travelled outside the country for this mandatory practical training. Now, we have the capacity here," Gungura said.

According to him, the simulator can model several internal and external emergency scenarios and different engine systems, including Boeing 737, CRJ and turboprop configurations. He said the school has increased yearly output in the last two years, supporting stronger aviation safety preparation across Nigerian airports.