NCAA, FAAN, Hosts ICAO/UNEP Mission on Sustainable Airport Firefighting
Oru Leonard
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NAAC), in partnership with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other stakeholders, is hosting a technical mission under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment (FIRE) Project.
The three-day mission, which began on September 7 and ends September 9, is being conducted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
The initiative is aimed at supporting Nigeria’s aviation sector in transitioning from conventional firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to fluorine-free alternatives that offer safer and more environmentally sustainable options.
The FIRE Project is implemented by UNEP and executed by ICAO with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
PFAS are persistent chemicals that can remain in the environment for extended periods. Some PFAS have historically been used in firefighting foams, prompting increasing international efforts to control their use because of concerns about their potential environmental and health impacts.
Nigeria is one of five African countries participating in the FIRE Project, alongside Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa.
The project, scheduled to run from 2025 to 2030, has an estimated overall value of US$82.5 million, comprising a US$10 million GEF grant and about US$72.5 million in co-financing from participating partners.
At the wider programme level, the initiative is expected to facilitate the environmentally sound management and removal of about 4,500 tonnes of PFAS-contaminated materials from firefighting vehicles and related systems, as well as the safe disposal of approximately 130 tonnes of PFAS-based firefighting foam concentrate.
During the Nigerian mission, ICAO and UNEP technical experts are engaging the NCAA, FAAN, environmental authorities, airport rescue and firefighting personnel and other relevant stakeholders.
The assessment is examining Nigeria’s existing systems for the procurement, storage, use, handling and disposal of firefighting foams at airports.
The team is also assessing aircraft rescue and firefighting infrastructure and equipment, while identifying possible environmental and occupational risks associated with PFAS-containing products.
Other areas under consideration include the suitability of fluorine-free firefighting foams for aircraft rescue operations, compatibility with existing firefighting vehicles and foam-delivery systems, decontamination or replacement of affected equipment, disposal of existing foam stocks and contaminated materials, personnel training and the regulatory framework required to support the transition.
Aviation Safety Remains Priority
The transition to fluorine-free firefighting technology is expected to be carefully managed to ensure that environmental considerations do not compromise aviation safety.
The NCAA’s participation in the project is expected to strengthen the regulatory framework governing airport rescue and firefighting services while ensuring continued compliance with applicable national and international safety standards.
The initiative also aligns with efforts to promote environmental sustainability, responsible chemical management, occupational safety and the modernisation of airport infrastructure.
The outcome of the technical mission is expected to give Nigeria a clearer picture of its current PFAS and firefighting-foam situation, including infrastructure requirements, equipment needs, regulatory considerations, training and capacity-building gaps, and environmental management priorities.
The findings will provide a basis for developing a structured national roadmap for the phased transition from PFAS-containing firefighting foams to fluorine-free alternatives at Nigerian airports.
Lessons from the assessment of the participating airports could also guide the wider adoption of safer and more environmentally responsible firefighting practices across the country’s airport network.
Nigeria’s participation in the ICAO/UNEP FIRE Project therefore brings together the objectives of aviation safety, environmental protection, occupational health and sustainable infrastructure development, while maintaining the effectiveness and operational readiness of airport rescue and firefighting services as a key priority.
