Airport firefighters working with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have rejected a proposed online basic firefighting training programme for the agency’s personnel, warning that it could pose serious risks to aviation safety.
The firefighters, under the umbrella of the Nigerian Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA), said the plan could undermine established aviation safety standards and damage Nigeria’s reputation in global aviation safety compliance.
The protest follows FAAN’s plan to introduce a training structure that would combine four weeks of online learning with two weeks of practical sessions for more than 200 airport firefighters nationwide.
In a protest letter dated March 9, 2026, and signed by NAFSA President, Sunday Ugbeikwu, the association described the initiative as unacceptable. The letter, addressed to FAAN’s Managing Director, Olubunmi Kuku and obtained by The Guardian on Wednesday, labelled the programme an “aberration and travesty.”
Ugbeikwu argued that aviation firefighting training cannot be effectively delivered through online platforms. He warned that replacing extensive hands-on drills with virtual instruction would weaken the capabilities of firefighters responsible for responding to aircraft emergencies at Nigerian airports.
According to NAFSA, the proposed approach also contradicts international aviation safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Nigeria’s aviation regulator, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
Ugbeikwu referenced ICAO Annex 14, which requires airport rescue and firefighting training to include practical exercises and live simulations.
The association stressed that key components of aviation firefighting—such as aircraft rescue operations, live fuel fire suppression, breathing apparatus drills, and emergency response procedures—cannot be effectively taught through virtual learning.
Part of the letter read:
“The national leadership of NAFSA cannot stand by and watch the potential damage that this proposal could cause to FAAN firefighters. Firefighters are already distraught and dissatisfied with the plan.”
NAFSA maintained that firefighters trained mainly through online methods may not meet the operational standards expected of airport rescue and firefighting personnel.
Ugbeikwu also expressed confidence that the Director-General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, would ensure strict adherence to internationally recognised aviation safety standards.
He emphasised that airport firefighters play a critical role in aviation safety and must undergo rigorous physical training to respond effectively during aircraft emergencies.
The association further warned that reducing training duration and replacing physical drills with online modules could weaken firefighters’ preparedness in real-life emergency situations.
Ugbeikwu noted that initial training for aviation firefighters previously lasted about three months before FAAN shortened it to six weeks of intensive practical instruction.
While suggesting that the e-learning model may have been introduced to reduce training costs, NAFSA insisted that safety must always take priority over financial considerations in the aviation sector.
As an alternative, the association proposed that the more than 200 firefighters scheduled for training be divided into smaller batches of between 50 and 70 personnel if logistics prevent them from undergoing the programme at once.
NAFSA also called for the immediate shutdown of the online platform created for the training, arguing that it could distract firefighters from their operational duties.
