The United Nations agency responsible for regulating the global aviation industry, The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), has sent a particular unit to Nigeria to audit some of the country’s busiest airports. The auditing will run for two weeks to enable the agency to conduct security audits of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
On Monday, 11 March 2024, the Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, via a signed statement, mentioned that “The audit exercise tagged, the 2024 ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme through Continuous Monitoring Approach for Lagos and Abuja airports, will cover critical aviation security areas such as Inflight Security, Passenger and Baggage Security, Acts of Unlawful Interference, Facilitation, Legislation, Training, Quality Control Function, Operations, and Cargo, Mail and Catering.”
The unit responsible for the audit consists of a four-man team, which includes James Mabala, Tebogo Mphela, Alagie Jeng, and Callum Vine, the head of the team. The audit will cover critical aviation security areas such as Inflight Security, Passenger and Baggage Security, Acts of Unlawful Interference, Facilitation, Legislation, Training, Quality Control Function, Operations, and Cargo, Mail and Catering.
The acting director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Chris Najomo, welcomed the ICAO auditors and emphasized the goals of the USAP CMA.
The director general added objectives aimed at evaluating a country’s adherence to ICAO’s Annex 9 and 17 concerning Facilitation and AVSEC standards, integral components of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
He stated “As ,part of the on-site auditing process, both Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja have been selected as airports where verification of the implementation of security measures will be carried out”
He gave the ICAO auditors confirmation that Nigeria had raised its safety regulations since the previous audit and assured them of full cooperation to ensure a smooth operation.
