ICAO 24-hour SAR watch stressed at NAMA’s emergency exercise

Advertisement

The importance of coordinated aeronautical emergency response readiness was the central message at an Aircraft Emergency Tabletop Exercise held in Lagos.

The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) hosted the simulation at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Conference Centre with wide stakeholder participation. The exercise was aimed at testing preparedness, enhancing coordination and reinforcing the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirement for a 24-hour Search and Rescue (SAR) watch.

Declaring the simulation open, Director of Air Traffic Services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Mr John Tayo, said that readiness must be collective. Represented by General Manager, Search and Rescue, Mr Sunday Iwalaiye, he said SAR was everyone’s responsibility in an aeronautical emergency.

He stressed that effective coordination begins with a clear understanding of agency roles. The exercise, he added, was necessary to build synergy. According to him, “Search and Rescue is everybody’s business. When incidents occur in remote locations, farmers are often the first responders.”

The tabletop was structured to assess how stakeholders react to simulated emergencies without deploying physical assets or field personnel. Agencies represented included Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Customs Service.

Also present were the Department of State Security, Nigerian Police Force, Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), LASAMBUS and FRSC. Stakeholders used the opportunity to deepen their operational understanding and identify lapses in real-time response chains.

Regional General Manager, South West Airports, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr Olatokunbo Arewa, praised NAMA for the initiative. He stated that although no one wants emergencies, the industry must remain prepared to respond quickly and effectively when they occur.

Representative of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Alhaji Safo Baba Jiya, echoed that safety was central to NCAA’s operations. He urged participants to approach the exercise as an opportunity for learning and improvement.

Quality Assurance Manager, MMIA, Mr Onohwoakpo Chris, said the simulation was vital, even though emergency scenarios are unwanted. He remarked that learning from hypothetical situations makes the system stronger.

Head of Search and Rescue, NEMA Lagos Operations Office, Mrs Ibitayo Adenike, said past disasters often came without warning. She urged all agencies to align and build better cooperation to minimise loss during actual emergencies.

From Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Engineer Jamin Olayinka Salami stated that while preparedness was vital, preventive action was equally necessary. He emphasised the need to continually strengthen capacity to mitigate potential disasters.

Search Mission Coordinator, MMIA, Mr Igberaese David, who oversaw the scenario planning, explained that the goal was to save as many lives as possible. He noted that the ICAO standard of a continuous 24-hour SAR presence sets the tone for real-time accountability.

He added that NAMA’s partnership with NEMA and NIMASA ensured cohesive response efforts, especially when incidents cross air and maritime jurisdictions. According to him, building an effective aeronautical emergency response readiness network is not optional—it is an operational requirement.

The high point of the exercise was the activation of a mock emergency involving SAR, followed by a comprehensive debrief to evaluate gaps. The event concluded with a strong consensus that SAR operations must reflect both national commitment and international obligations under ICAO protocols.

The repeated emphasis on aeronautical emergency response readiness reinforced the urgency for ongoing preparedness, practical drills and seamless inter-agency coordination.