Photo caption : L-R : Representative of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority Authority (NCAA), Alhaji Safo Jiya, Head of Search and Rescue Unit, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos Operations Office), Mrs. Ibitayo Adenike, Regional General Manager, South West, FAAN, Mr Olatokunbo Arewa, Search Mission Coordinator, MMIA, Igberaese David and an official of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Engr Jamin Salami during the Aircraft Emergency Table Top Exercise organised by NAMA , today; Tuesday at the MMIA, Lagos.
…As NAMA Conducts Aircraft Emergency Table Top Exercise In Lagos
Stakeholders at the Aircraft Emergency Table Top Exercise organised by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have stated to that Search and Rescue(SAR) is the responsibility of all and not restricted to any agency or agencies.
They also agreed the Aircraft Table Top Interactive session today is to learn , the role of every stakeholder, what to do, and how to implement what they have learnt.
Speaking at the forum , the Director of Air Traffic Services, NAMA,Tayo John represented by the General Manager, Search and Rescue (SAR), Mr Sunday Iwalaiya said that the issue of SAR is not the function of any particular organisation but for everyone.
To buttress his point, he said that when aeronautical SAR happens in the farm , the first responders are usually the locals and that in this scenario, the locals does not have to wait for any agency before embarking on SAR.
He added that it would not be proper if the victims needs help and the agencies saddled with the responsibility are yet to arrive at the scene while the locals are there but not allowed to assist.
He urged stakeholders to open their minds to learn and be prepared to carry out their responsibilities. Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) today conducted an Aircraft Emergency Table Top Exercise to enlighten aviation stakeholders on how to manage aircraft emergencies and disasters.
The Excercise which took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Conferences centre brought key stakeholders in emergency management and Search and Rescue Units drawn from all the aviation agencies, NIS, NCS, DSS, FRSC, FFS, NEMA, LASEMA, AON, Red Cross, LASANBUS, Police etc.
Declaring the excercise open, the Director of Air Traffic Services (ATS) at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) John Tayo urged all stakeholders who attended to take the excercise seriously.
Tayo equally urged the media to take the exercise serious and report it widely, pointing out that other agencies had done similar excercise but was not captured in the media space.
Emphasising that Search and Rescue is everybody’s business, he said, “This morning, we are going to combine two things. To get fruitful result, we want to seperate stakeholders meeting and the aircraft emergency Excercise”.
The Director, who was represented by the General Manager, SAR, NAMA, Mr Sunday Iwalaye streamlined the Emergency Table Top Excercise into two sessions: “Search and Rescue Units and Responsibilities” and “Arrangement Into Groups of Search And Rescue Units According To Their Responsibilities” said
“We cannot start the exercise without knowing clearly the responsibilities of each agency. Any Search and Rescue involving an aircraft is aeranautical emergency”.
In his remark, , Regional General Manager, South West, FAAN, Mr Olatokunbo Arewa commended the coordinators for organisers of the Excercise, urging all participants to support the exercise
“This is a thing we should all support. Although, no one want emergencies to happen but it does happen. I want all stakeholders to take notes to what so as to know what to do when emergencies occur”, Arewa added.
Alhaji Safo Baba Jiya, a representative of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also commended the coordinators.
Jiwa, who dwelt elaborately on the importance of safety said, “Safety is paramount for us at NCAA. We are here to learn. Let us be mindful on what we are doing here today”.
In his remark, Quality Assurance Manager (QAM) , MMIA, Onohwoakpo Chris said that although many stakeholders don’t want emergency situations but that, “”We gathered here to learn on what we don’t ever want to happen in aviation”.
Head of Search and Rescue Unit, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA, Lagos Operations Office), Mrs. Ibitayo Adenike equally commended the exercise.
Ibitayo said, “Last disaster in global aviation wasn’t expected. We have representatives of practically all airlines. I appreciate the efforts put in this exercise. Let us put our minds together to synergise and identify areas of shortcomings and make progress so that whenever we there is an emergency, we will do the right thing”.
To Engr Jamin Olayinka Salami of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), he was very pleased with the exercise as it is something that stakeholders need to be doing often.
Salami, however, insisted that, what most importantly is how do we prevent disasters. It will help us to prepare more for eventually.
Explaining the essence of the exercise, Search Mission Coordinator, MMIA, Igberaese David who coordinated the exercise said that NAMA have been they conducting joint operation with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) NIMASA, they decided to come together for a better performance when incidence occurs.
Igberaese said, “The goal is rescuing the greatest number of people in the shortest possible time.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), 24 hour watch must be provided in the Search and Rescue operations”.
“Search and Rescue is everybody is everybody business because when it occurs in remote areas, the farmers eventually become the first responders.”, Igberaese added.
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