LAGOS – In a bid to react appropriately to aircraft emergencies and disasters, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has conducted an Aircraft Emergency Table Top Exercise for aviation stakeholders in the country. The exercise, which took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos conferences centre on Tuesday, brought key stakeholders in emergency management and Search and Rescue Units. The stakeholders were drawn from all the aviation agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Department of State Security (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Fire Service (FFS), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management (LASEMA), Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASANBUS) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), among others. Mr. John Tayo, the Director of Air Traffic Services (ATS), NAMA, in his opening address, said that Search and Rescue (SAR) was everybody’s business, He said the essence of the exercise was to get fruitful result from all participants and urged them to take the exercise seriously. Tayo who was represented at the occasion by Mr. Sunday Iwalaye, the Director, SAR, NAMA, streamlined the emergency table top exercise into two sessions – Search and Rescue Units and Responsibilities and Arrangement Into Groups of Search And Rescue Units According To Their Responsibilities. He added: “We cannot start the exercise without knowing clearly the responsibilities of each agency. Any Search and Rescue involving an aircraft is aeronautical emergency.” In his remarks, Mr. Olatokunbo Arewa, Regional General Manager, South West, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), lauded the coordinators for organisers of the event. Arewa posited that no one wanted emergencies to happen, but despite this, it still happens in the industry. Alhaji Safo Jiya, a representative of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also commended the coordinators. Jiwa, who dwelt elaborately on the importance of safety said this was paramount for the NCAA in order to sustain the current safety status in the industry. Mr. Chris Onohwoakpo, Quality Assurance Manager (QAM), MMIA, in his remarks said that it was necessary for all stakeholders to learn on how they could combat emergencies despite their disposition to it. Mrs. Ibitayo Adenike, Head of Search and Rescue Unit, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos,in his speech, said that the recent air crash in India was unexpected, maintaining that it was important for all stakeholders to synergise and identify areas of shortcomings to prevent air disaster. Besides, Engr. Jamin Salami of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), expressed satisfaction with the exercise. He pointed out that every stakeholder needed to be a part of this regularly. High point of the event was the activation of Search and Rescue scenario, which was terminated after some minutes of demonstrations before debriefing of the exercise.