Bunmi Kuku, managing director/CEO, FAAN

 Sade Williams/Business a.m.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) appear to have now sheath the sword in the dispute involving a Boeing 737-NG full flight fire simulator acquired in 2019 by the federal government.

The truce followed the intervention of Olubunmi Kuku, managing director and chief executive of the FAAN at a meeting in her Lagos boardroom involving teams from the two organisations.

Obiageli Orah, director, public affairs and consumer protection, said in a statement that a top management team from FAAN and a team from NCAT led by Joseph Imalighwe, rector and chief executive officer, as well as the leadership of the Nigerian Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA), met and resolved that FAAN and NCAT will share revenue and liabilities on the simulator. Also, FAAN will use its network to attract foreign trainees to use the facility and raise revenue for both organisations.

The multi–purpose aircraft fire simulator situated at NCAT Campus in Zaria offers different practical fire fighting and rescue scenarios. It was acquired in 2019 by the previous administration for about N5.2 billion. At the time, it was projected that the simulator would save the country billions of foreign currency in training costs, which hitherto went to other countries.

“We are happy to have finally come to this agreement between sister organisations in the interest of the safety of our passengers and improving the competence of our brave firefighters. This will improve our image globally and attract revenue that both organisations need. As I have always said, safety will always take priority in everything we do at FAAN, and this is a demonstration of that,” Orah’s statement quoted Kuku as saying.