ASRTI Team Advocates Safety, Professionalism At FNAC 2023

Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI) has called on the government to allow professionalism and career progression thrive in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
Speaking during a panel session at the FAAN National Aviation Conference (FNAC) 2023 held at International Conference Centre, Abuja under the theme, “Sustainability Of The Aviation Industry In Nigeria, ASRTI’s General Secretary, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd) frowned at interference from the Federal Ministry of Aviation that tend to disrupt career progression in the agencies.
“How can somebody work in a government agency for 25 to 30 years without the chances of attaining the position of a Director?” he asked.
He further said that aviation industry is a national security environment and that workers should engage with their employers in the office on labour issues rather than disrupting activities at the airport in the name of picketing.
“The type of incessant strikes we have these days is not welcome. Well, you can go on strike, but don’t disturb others,” he said.
Ojikutu further stated that aviation security and safety should be a major concern for the government, adding that ICAO is concerned about passenger safety. He described airport business as a national asset that should be protected. Ojikutu identified layers of defence as intelligence, access control, checkpoint screening, check-in baggage and onboard security.
In his presentation on cyber security, a member of the ASRTI team, Engr. Ifeanyi Ogorchukwu said many cyber systems have become vulnerable because aviation infrastructure was not designed originally with the security by design framework. So, cyber space is increasingly exposing the vulnerability of such infrastructure because at that time, there was no internet or digital technology. He said security is now cyber and is no more physical while cyber attacks are no more limited by distance. For this reason, each aviation organization in the world should ensure that their systems are digitally safe and their personnel are secured.
“There is need for NCAA to lead the process to ensure that every aviation organization does cyber security risk assessment,” he said.
The CAA needs to secure assets and people, each segment of the industry including information, equipment, etc. “They must be cyber ready, cyber prepared and cyber resilient” he said. He equally canvassed for a National Cyber Security Programme.
In his contribution to a discussion on carbon emissions, Albinus Chiedu suggested that organizations should develop specific budgets for emissions reduction, set targets and conduct a periodic review on how far they have gone in efforts to achieve their emissions reduction targets.
ASRTI’s Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Olu Ohunayo moderated a panel session at the event.