Multibillion Naira Boeing Firefighting Simulator installed at NCAT, Zaria, Kaduna State, 2019. The Investment had until now, made to rot away by those appointed to provide leadership for aviation in Nigeria
The tripartite approach proffered as an Intervention measure on the contentious firefighting simulator which for half a decade has been grossly underutilized at its present location in the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, has been amicably resolved.
In a meeting at the instance of the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Oluwaseun Kuku, which also had in attendance other top management staff of FAAN, a team from Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, NCAT, Zaria, led by the Rector/CEO, Mr. Joseph Imalighwe, and the leadership of the Nigerian Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA), deliberated on how best to make judicious use of the world-class Boeing fire simulator.
Resolutions reached at the meeting were among other things that, FAAN and NCAT, will henceforth be involved in the administration, maintenance and marketing of the various training capabilities the simulator can render, while members of NAFSA will form the nucleus of resource persons that will avail their skills and competencies to the trainees in a way the equipment will be profitable for stakeholders and beneficial for trainees.
According to a media statement by FAAN, which was released at the end of the parley, it stated thus, “it was resolved that FAAN and NCAT will share revenue and liabilities on the simulator”.
Also, the statement averred that “FAAN will use its network to attract foreign trainees to use the facility and raise revenue for both organizations”
The Multi-Purpose Aircraft Fire Simulator was acquired in 2019 by the previous administration in the aviation ministry under the leadership of Sen Hadi Sirika, for about N5.2b, and installed at NCAT Campus in Zaria. It is capable of offering different practical firefighting and rescue scenarios.
Aerodrome safety experts said the simulator would save the country billions of foreign exchange in training costs, which hitherto went to other countries.
Speaking on the development, the MD/CE of FAAN said, “We are happy to have finally come to this agreement between sister organizations in the interest of the safety of our passengers and improving the competence of our brave firefighters”.
Kuku explained further, “this decision will improve our image globally and attract revenue that both organizations need. As I have always said, safety will always take priority in everything we do at FAAN, and this is a demonstration of that.”
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