NCAA Hosts ICAO/UNEP FIRE Project Mission

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hosted the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment (FIRE) Project mission to support Nigerias transition from FPAS- containing firefighting foams to flourine-free alternatives.

Welcoming the ICAO FIRE project delegation, the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, during a strategic meeting held on the 8th September, 2026, at the NCAA Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, stated that the initiative aligns with the aviation industry’s growing focus on maintaining the highest safety standards and environmental sustainability.

According to Capt. Najomo, the project would not only support feasibility studies but also phase out plans for selected Nigerian airports, including Abuja and Port Harcourt.

He, however, expressed NCAA’s commitment to collaborating with FAAN, ICAO, UNEP, the Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders to ensure a safe, effective and environmentally responsible transition across Nigeria’s aviation sector.

In her opening remarks, the Managing Director, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, represented by the General Manager, Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Services, Mr. Rimdap Nantim, reaffirmed FAAN’s commitment to the project.

While describing the transition as an important step towards more sustainable and environmentally-responsible airport firefighting operations, stressing that safety must remain central throughout the process, Mrs. Kuku called for strong collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative in Nigeria.

Providing an overview of the project, the Coordinator, Mr. Eike Peltzer, explained that the initiative is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with approximately 10 million dollars committed to the project across five African countries; namely, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

He stated that the 60-month project covers about 40 airports with special focus on four key areas, including developing a regulatory framework, transitioning from PFAS-containing firefighting foam, knowledge management & training, and monitoring & evaluation.

In addition, the transition would require careful assessment of existing firefighting systems and equipment, with the project supporting feasibility studies, phase-out planning and training to ensure that the new fluorine-free alternatives meet applicable aviation firefighting performance requirements.

The technical mission is expected to continue with physical inspections in Lagos and Port Harcourt as part of efforts to assess existing systems and support Nigeria’s transition to fluorine-free firefighting foam.