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The Nigerian Aviation Fire Safety Association (NAFSA) has commended the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, for completing the 2024/2025 Firefighters’ Annual Medical Certification and Fitness Test in a record time of just 10 months.
The nationwide certification exercise began in November 2024 and was successfully concluded in September 2025. For the first time in FAAN’s history, firefighters at all airports across Nigeria underwent a coordinated and comprehensive medical evaluation to assess their fitness and health status.
General Secretary of NAFSA, Mr. Akinwunmi Emmanuel, described the exercise as a milestone and a direct outcome of Mrs. Kuku’s pragmatic and transformational leadership at FAAN. He noted that the firefighters’ Annual Medical Certification was unprecedented in its scope and delivery.
“This remarkable feat has not only tested the fitness levels of our firefighters but also provided them with vital knowledge of their health status. With this information, they can take proactive steps to manage their well-being. FAAN’s responsiveness to occupational hazards, including carcinogenic exposure and psychological trauma, is highly commendable,” Emmanuel said.
He stressed that the firefighting profession remains inherently hazardous and that prioritising the health of personnel was a decisive step by FAAN. According to him, the exercise confirms the agency’s commitment to protecting the workforce that defends lives and infrastructure during airport emergencies.
NAFSA monitored the exercise from start to finish and confirmed its success. Emmanuel explained that the process demonstrated FAAN’s commitment to international standards of workplace safety. The association particularly praised the release of test results to firefighters, noting that this ensured the exercise achieved its core purpose.
However, he encouraged FAAN to improve future timelines for dispatching results, so personnel can quickly address any identified concerns. “We also encourage early preparations for the next certification, adopting a sequential approach that guarantees every airport is captured annually,” Emmanuel emphasized.
NAFSA also recalled Mrs. Kuku’s earlier assurance during consultations with the association, where she pledged: “I will not compromise the health and well-being of firefighters, as I will take the Annual Medical Certification seriously, because a healthy workforce is a productive workforce.”
According to Emmanuel, the successful completion of the firefighters’ Annual Medical Certification in record time proves that FAAN has lived up to this commitment. He added that the initiative sets a new benchmark for occupational safety standards across Nigeria’s airports.
The association further stated that the exercise strengthens collaboration between FAAN and NAFSA, creating a framework for sustainable improvement in firefighter welfare. Emmanuel pledged the association’s support in ensuring future editions remain consistent, rigorous, and transparent.
He noted that the medical certification would have lasting benefits for the firefighting service, including early detection of health challenges, better fitness monitoring, and greater workforce productivity.
The successful conclusion of this Annual Medical Certification signals FAAN’s alignment with global aviation safety practices, which emphasize the health and readiness of emergency response teams. By completing the certification within 10 months, FAAN has set a benchmark for other airport authorities in Africa.
NAFSA emphasised that firefighters are exposed to unique occupational dangers, including smoke inhalation, stress, and extreme physical strain. Regular medical screening is therefore essential, not optional, for sustaining their effectiveness.
“This milestone is not just a win for FAAN but a win for Nigerian aviation safety as a whole. It demonstrates that leadership, when committed to people, delivers results,” Emmanuel added.
As FAAN begins planning for the next firefighters’ Annual Medical Certification, NAFSA has urged management to retain the strict, structured approach that made this year’s edition a success.
The association expressed confidence that under Kuku’s leadership, the Authority will institutionalize this process, making it an annual standard rather than an occasional exercise.
For Nigerian aviation, the conclusion of the Annual Medical Certification in record time underscores the growing emphasis on safety culture, workforce health, and institutional accountability. NAFSA pledged continued collaboration with FAAN to build on this achievement and ensure Nigerian firefighters remain among the best-prepared professionals in the region.
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