NEMA, Sokoto Operations Office responded appropriately within the stipulated time to an emergency drill staged by Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), .
The drill which was done without prior notice to any Stakeholder organization, staged a plane crash around the airport (within the jurisdiction of FAAN).
In the simulation exercise, the aircraft took off from Birnin-kebbi to Niamey, Niger Republic and encountered an engine problem that ended in huge smoke and fire. This resulted to the crash.
Every response organization in Sokoto State was present at the simulation . They include Aviation Fire Service, Federal and Sokoto State Fire Service, Disaster Unit of NSCDC, Ambulance service, Security Operatives that encompassed Air Force, Aviation Security, Nigeria Police Force. Also in present were Red Cross, medical personnel from Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) and NAMA amongst others.
The drill was staged to test the readiness of response organizations to respond to such emergencies and also their competence in handling the situation.
The drill featured rescue of passengers, with some already dead persons and several magnitudes of injuries.
There was a debrief session held immediately after the drill to do a quick appraisal of the event and take note of weak areas.
During the debriefing, Airport Manager of the Sokoto Airport who served as the Incident Commander said the drill is an important activity for FAAN that must be staged at least once in two years.
Earlier, few weeks ago, coordination meeting was held by FAAN, where all the Stakeholders were represented. Each organization was asked to do a brief presentation on its role in airport emergency/disasters.
The Airport Manager was full of gratitude to the whole organizations and persons who participated in the drill he described as very good.
