ICAO FIRE Project Mission Team Visits Port Harcourt Airport

The Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, 9th September, 2026, hosted the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment (FIRE) project mission delegation.

In a welcome address delivered on behalf of the Director-General, Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, the NCAA Regional Manager, Port Harcourt, Mrs. Muo Ame John, thanked ICAO for its technical support to Nigeria and for selecting the airport as a beneficiary of an initiative supporting the transition to PFAS-Free, fluorine-free firefighting foams.

While describing the airport as a key international gateway for the South-South and South-East regions, she urged stakeholders to support the mission targeted at aviation safety, environmental sustainability, and improved operational standards.

‎The Regional Manager for the South-South zone of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and General Manager of Port Harcourt International Airport, Mrs. Ezike Iyesinachi Lynda, in her remarks, reaffirmed FAAN’s openness to the project and her readiness to provide the necessary assistance to ensure a successful transition.

The event featured insightful presentations by the ICAO team, comprising Mr. Eike Peltzer and Ms. Litzy Baeza, on the overview of the FIRE project's objectives, mission scope, the phase-out plan, and the information required from the airport, as well as an introduction to the project's gender mainstreaming strategy. This was followed by a presentation from FAAN's Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Services (ARFFS).

‎‎The event was followed by a site visit to the airport's fire station for inspection.