The Federal Government has delivered the remaining eight of 10 Volkan Lion 6×6 fire fighting vehicles worth N12 billion to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aeronautical Rescue and Fire Fighting Services ( ARFFS).
The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika made this known at the delivery of the equipment to FAAN Managing Director, Capt. Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu at the Lagos Airport on Sunday (today).
It would be recalled that the federal government had delivered the two Firefighting vehicle in Dec. 2022 to FAAN.
The minister said providing the safety critical equipment, especially items like fire to forestall the recurrence of unfortunate accidents such as the Dec. 10, 2005 Sosoliso crash.
Sirika noted that the federal government in fostering safety and security of flight operations, had focused on the tripod of rehabilitation/upgrade of infrastructure, capacity building, and training/manpower development.
He said: “The Lion Volkan 6×6 Brand, Major Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicles (MFFV) carries 14,000 litres of water, 1,700 litres of foam, 250kg powder capacity each.
“The equipment has an acceleration rate of 0-80km per hour in 30 seconds, each of the truck possesses limitless capacity to discharge while in motion, they are also equipped with under chassis nozzles to tackle running fuel fire.
“It monitors the discharge rate of between 6,000 litres to 10,000 litres per minute and they will be deployed to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
Sirika, who remembered the crash which occured in Port Harcourt said lack of fire cover all but guaranteed the death of the surviving children of Loyola Jesuit College crash who died during the fire which engulfed the aircraft after the plane went down.
Yadudu, FAAN managing director on his part noted that comprehensive training programme had been arranged for the users of the vehicles and the mechanical department.
Yadudu explained that this was to ensure the vehicles were not only used as specified by the manufacturers but also maintained accordingly.
“The federal government also delivered the eleven ambulances, two brand new Response Commanders’ Vehicles, and Aircraft Removal and Recovery Equipment have also been procured and deployed to various airports.
“We are promising airport users that FAAN will continue to prioritise safety and security at the nation’s airports.
“I also want to charge the Air Rescue and Fire Fighting Department to make the best use of the newly commissioned equipment,” he said
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