Apron Safety has emerged as a defining concern for Nigeria’s aviation sector, following repeated ground handling incidents that continue to cost the global industry billions of dollars each year. These occurrences, often overlooked compared with airborne events, have injured hundreds of thousands of aviation workers worldwide. Against this backdrop, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has renewed its warning to all airport ground personnel, stressing that strict compliance with apron safety requirements is no longer optional but essential to safe and efficient operations.
Apron Safety was at the centre of discussions in Lagos during the first Joint National Apron Safety Operations Workshop, a forum that brought together regulators, investigators, airlines, airport operators and frontline ground staff. The workshop was convened to address persistent hazards within the apron environment, an area where aircraft, vehicles, equipment and personnel converge under intense time pressure. Speakers repeatedly noted that most aviation operations begin and end on the apron, making it a critical but vulnerable phase of flight.
The Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Chris Najomo, used the platform to underline the scale of the problem. He explained that apron-related incidents account for a significant share of global aviation losses annually, while also inflicting serious injuries on personnel. According to him, Nigeria cannot afford to treat such risks as routine operational inconveniences, especially as traffic volumes and operational complexity continue to rise across the country’s airports.
Najomo emphasised that effective apron safety depends on continuous training and demonstrated competence among marshallers and ground staff. He noted that standard operating procedures must not only exist on paper but be regularly reviewed, enforced and understood by all personnel working airside. In addition, he stressed that collaboration among airlines, airport authorities, ground handling companies and regulators is fundamental to building a resilient safety culture that can withstand operational and commercial pressures.
Beyond procedures and coordination, Najomo highlighted the importance of managing human factors as a core element of apron safety. He pointed to substance abuse prevention, fatigue management and proper control of passengers within airside areas as recurring concerns that demand consistent oversight. In his view, the workshop itself reflected a broader commitment to a proactive, collaborative and sustainable Safety Management System culture within Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
Drawing from recent consultative engagements and aerodrome revalidation exercises, Najomo revealed that several troubling practices continue to surface at Nigerian airports. These include boarding passengers during fuelling operations, congestion on the apron before boarding, pilots parking at non-assigned bays and persistent shortages of trained marshallers at some locations. He described these challenges as real and recurring hazards that directly undermine both safety and operational efficiency.
He cautioned participants that meaningful progress would only be achieved if the workshop produced actionable outcomes. According to him, open sharing of operational experiences, refinement of marshalling and apron procedures, and a firm commitment to best practices must translate into concrete inputs for the NCAA’s regulatory framework. He also urged organisations to prioritise continuous training and revalidation of marshallers nationwide, noting that skills erosion poses a silent but serious threat to apron safety.
The safety message was reinforced by the Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Captain Badeh, who described the apron as one of the most critical and high-risk environments in aviation. Represented at the event by Henry Nwanyanwu, Badeh explained that aviation safety effectively begins and ends on the ground. The apron, he said, combines noise, jet blast, moving aircraft, fuel operations and ground support equipment, all within a space that allows little margin for error.
Badeh noted that investigation data, both locally and internationally, consistently show that a substantial proportion of aircraft damage and personnel injuries occur during ground operations. Collisions with equipment, jet blast incidents, foreign object debris ingestion, fuel spills and incorrect marshalling signals remain common findings. He warned that these are not minor occurrences, as they have the potential to escalate rapidly into major accidents if left unaddressed.
According to Badeh, repeated safety investigations continue to identify unsafe apron practices, weak coordination and gaps in safety culture as contributing factors to serious incidents. He stressed that investigation reports only achieve their intended impact when safety recommendations are implemented and sustained by all stakeholders. Clear procedures, proper training, certification and effective communication, he said, must be treated as non-negotiable foundations of apron safety.
In highlighting the role of aircraft marshallers, Badeh described them as the unsung safety professionals of airport operations. He explained that marshallers form the final link between the flight crew and the ground environment, where a single incorrect signal or lapse in awareness can have serious consequences. He commended ongoing efforts to improve standardisation, training and professional recognition for marshallers, noting that their effectiveness depends on internationally aligned training, appropriate medical fitness, reliable equipment and duty time limits that prevent fatigue.
Badeh further cautioned that safety must always take precedence over schedule or commercial pressure. In his assessment, most apron occurrences result from a combination of human and organisational factors, including complacency, poor supervision, inadequate communication and the normalisation of unsafe practices. He stressed that Safety Management Systems must be fully applied to apron activities, with emphasis on proactive hazard identification, risk assessment, safety assurance and continuous safety promotion.
The importance of cross-sector coordination was echoed by the Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Professor Charles Anosike. He described apron safety as fundamental to the smooth and efficient functioning of airports, noting that the apron is the operational hub where aircraft, vehicles and personnel interact in a tightly coordinated environment. According to him, routine activities such as fuelling, baggage handling, catering and passenger boarding often occur simultaneously, amplifying the consequences of any lapse in vigilance.
Anosike warned that even minor safety breaches on the apron can lead to injuries, aircraft damage, flight delays and, in extreme cases, loss of life. He stressed that apron safety extends beyond regulatory compliance, as it is central to protecting lives, safeguarding valuable aviation assets and preserving public confidence in air transport. He therefore called for renewed commitment to vigilance, continuous training and teamwork among all airport stakeholders.
As Nigeria’s aviation industry continues to modernise, apron safety remains a decisive factor in sustaining safe growth. The discussions in Lagos underscored that the apron must be treated as a zone of precision rather than peril. With consistent training, strong coordination and unwavering commitment to safety principles, stakeholders agreed that apron safety can evolve from a persistent risk area into a model of disciplined and resilient aviation operations.
