The United Nations has said it will establish two Aviation Security Training Schools in Nigeria.
The main objective of the project is to support the nation’s overall counter-terrorism strategy by providing a key element of a robust national aviation security policy that mitigates effectively the threat posed to civil aviation by terrorist organizations and their operatives, Douglas Melvin, the United Nations-appointed Project Manager for the schools said in Abuja on Thursday while briefing Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation.
According to a statement by James Odaudu, deputy director, press and public relations, Melvin also noted that the initiative will further enhance the capacity within the United Nations system to help interested Member States to implement the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in an integrated manner.
“This involves assisting the partnering Member States with their implementation of the Strategy across all four topical pillars, which address the multiple dimensions of countering terrorism, and utilizing assistance capacities and efforts from across the United Nations system”, he explained.
According to him, the choice of Nigeria, out of twenty-five (25) countries considered, was in appreciation of its clear and well documented roadmap on developing the aviation sector, with particular emphasis on safety and security and said the country stands to reap more benefits than the training of its aviation security personnel by the best available security experts.
Other benefits, he said, include the provision of, and exposure to hi-tech Aviation Security equipment and the generation of revenue from training of aviation security personnel from other countries.
He also informed the Minister that the up-coming United Nations General Assembly is billed to make a proclamation on Aviation Security with specific reference to Nigeria. This according to him, underscores the importance attached to the project as a flagship and high profile one which the country is privileged to be a beneficiary.
Responding, Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation, commended the UN for recognizing and identifying with the government visions and efforts to establish and nurture a world class aviation industry in Nigeria that is basically founded on safety and security.
He assured of government readiness to provide all that is necessary for effective take-off and operation of the two institutes to be located in Abuja and Lagos.
According to the minister, the decision of government to establish a Ministerial Committee on Airport Security on assumption of office, defined the importance it attached to Aviation Security as a critical component of the overall national and international security system and emphasized the recognized need for an integrated international counter-terrorism strategy which the Organization is set to address through the establish of the schools.
Sirika also described the choice of Nigeria as an Aviation Security training centre by the United Nations body as a massive boost to the nation’s desire to become a regional aviation hub and also heighten investor confidence in the country.
The project is to be fully funded by the United Nations, and delivered by the United Kingdom Department of Transportation while Nigeria is expected to participate in the provision of training premises and supply of low-cost aviation training equipment, amongst others.
