LAGOS – The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has harped on the need for ground personnel at Nigerian airports to adhere, strictly, to safety requirements at aprons.
Speaking at the first Joint National Apron Safety Operations Workshop in Lagos, organised by the Chairman, Airport Business Summit, Mr Fortune Idu, the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, said incidents on airport aprons cost the global aviation industry billions of dollars annually and injure hundreds of thousands of people, stressing that Nigeria must not ignore such dangers.
Najomo was represented by the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards at NCAA, Mr. Ahmed Abba.
According to Capt. Najomo, apron safety requires continuous training and competence of marshallers and ground staff, standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are regularly reviewed and enforced
Others according to the NCAA boss are collaboration among all stakeholders – airlines, airports, ground handlers, and regulators and human factor management, including substance abuse prevention and airside passenger control.
Najomo said the forum exemplified the vision of a proactive collaborative, and sustainable Safety Management System (SMS) culture.
He noted that from recent consultative reports and revalidation programmes, several pressing issues such as boarding passengers during fueling operations, pre-boarding crowding at aprons, Pilots parking at non-assigned bays, shortage of trained marshallers at certain airports emerged.
Najomo said: “These are not abstract problems. They are real, recurring hazards that compromise both safety and operational efficiency.
“This workshop must not end with discussions alone. It must produce actionable recommendations that will directly inform NCAA’s regulatory framework,” he said.
He, therefore, urged all participants to share experiences openly, contribute to refining SOPs for marshalling and apron operations, commit to implementing best practices in their respective organizations and support continuous training and revalidation of marshallers nationwide.
On his part, the Director-General of Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) Capt. Alex Badeh noted that bringing together aircraft marshallers, ground handlers, airport authorities, airlines, regulators, and investigators was a timely and necessary step to strengthen safety in one of the most critical areas of aviation operations, the apron.
Badeh who was represented by Mr. Henry Nwanyanwu, said the centrality of the Apron to Aviation Safety.
“Aviation safety begins and ends on the ground adding that the apron is a high-risk environment involving time pressure, noise, jet blast, moving aircraft, ground support equipment, fuel operations, and personnel working in varying conditions.
“Investigation data both global and local consistently show that a significant proportion of aircraft damage, personnel injuries, and serious incidents occur during ground operations. Common hazards include collisions with equipment, jet blast events, foreign object debris (FOD) ingestion, fuel spills, and incorrect marshalling signals,” said Badeh.
He noted that they were not minor issues but they have the potential to escalate into major accidents.
“As the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, our mandate is to investigate accidents and serious incidents, identify safety deficiencies, and issue recommendations to prevent recurrence. Our findings repeatedly highlight unsafe apron practices, poor coordination, and gaps in safety culture as contributing factors”
He disclosed that NSIB reports on runway incursions, ground collisions, and incidents involving ground handling equipment consistently emphasise the need for clear standard operating procedures, proper training and certification and effective communication.
Badeh said NSIB recommendations achieve impact only when they are implemented and sustained by all stakeholders.
“Aircraft Marshallers: The Unsung Safety Professionals Aircraft marshallers serve as the critical final link between the flight crew and the ground environment. A single incorrect signal or lapse in situational awareness can have serious consequences,” he said.
He commended the Aircraft Marshaller Consultative Forum for its work to advance standardisation, training, and professional recognition for marshallers.
According to him, to perform effectively, marshallers require training aligned with ICAO and industry standards, medical and physical fitness appropriate to the role, high-visibility clothing and reliable signalling equipment, duty time limits to prevent fatigue.
Badeh cautioned that safety must always take precedence over schedule or commercial pressure adding that most apron occurrences result from a combination of human and organisational factors, complacency, poor communication, inadequate supervision, time pressure, and normalisation of deviance.
“Safety Management Systems (SMS) must be fully applied to apron activities, with proactive hazard identification, risk assessment, safety assurance, and promotion.
“Collaboration and Coordination Among Apron Stakeholders Safe apron operations depend on effective coordination among airport operators, airlines, ground handlers, fuel providers, air traffic services, regulators, and emergency services,” Badeh noted.
The Director-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, in his address, emphasized that apron safety is fundamental to the smooth, safe and efficient operation of airports.
Anosike said the airport apron remains the operational hub where aircraft, ground vehicles and personnel interact in a tightly coordinated environment, making it one of the most risk-prone areas of any airport.
Prof. Anosike, represented by Shehu Bashir, noted that routine activities such as fuelling, baggage handling, catering and passenger boarding often occur simultaneously, increasing the consequences of any lapse in vigilance or discipline.
According to him, even minor safety breaches on the apron can lead to injuries, aircraft damage, flight delays or, in extreme cases, loss of life, stressing that apron safety goes beyond regulatory compliance.
He said it is fundamental to protecting lives, safeguarding valuable aviation assets and preserving the industry’s reputation as the safest mode of transportation.
Prof. Anosike called for renewed commitment to vigilance, continuous training and teamwork among all airport stakeholders, adding that sustained attention to safety will ensure the apron remains a zone of precision rather than peril.
