Key players in the aviation industry in Nigeria have called for continuous support for retirees of aviation security (AVSEC), insisting that such support will motivate those still in service to put in their best for the safety and security of the industry.
The calls were made recently during the inaugural meeting of the Aviation Security Retirees Association held at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The event was attended by over 200 AVSEC retirees from Nigeria and diaspora, representatives of Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, the current DASS ACP Afegbai Albert Igbafe rtd; the six FAAN Regional Airport Managers; Managing Directors of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO Plc) and Nigerian Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc.
Speaking at the occasion, the former Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Capt Hamisu Yakubu said the roles played by the AVSEC personnel in the aviation industry cannot be underestimated when it comes to security, safety and development.
He therefore called on every stakeholder in the aviation industry to keep supporting the personnel especially after serving the system meritoriously and sustained the success aviation industry thrives on today.
“Without the safety and security functions delivered by AVSEC, we would not have anything called aviation industry. Aviation is a very sensitive industry that needs safety and security to thrive,” he said.
Calling for identifying with AVSEC personnel, Yadudu averred, “Nigeria, despite our challenges, nobody is denying the fact that our aviation is very save, secured and successful. I think we have many reasons to identify with our AVSEC personnel and to celebrate them. It is very important.”
He added, ” Let it be about celebration and also providing a definite direction for the retirees on the ways of life after retirement. They should find a very clear and transparent initiatives that will help the retirees. It doesn’t have to be beneficial only in terms of money, but by way of advice, guidance, counselling and direction. These are very important. When you retired after you have served your nation very well, you need a lot of peace, support and understanding. It does not have to be money. If you give money fine. But identification with them and acknowledging them are very important. The organisation they served must find ways to make this association a worthwhile to the retirees and even those who are not yet in the association because one day, they will be part of it.
“We must find a way to make it attractive and beneficial. Those that are already in the association will be happy to be there and those who are not yet in the association would be looking forward to the day they will retire and join the association. This is very important.”
Also the chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) of Aviation Security Retirees Association and the immediate past Director of Airport Security Service (DASS), Group Capt USA Sadiq Rtd, in his welcome address at the occasion, called on everyone in the aviation industry in Nigeria to support AVSEC retirees and those still in service, saying, the personnel are giving their best to ensure a safe and secured aviation space in Nigeria.
The retired Air Force officer submitted that the safety and security enjoyed in the aviation industry aid foreign investments in Nigeria.
He enumerated some of the goals of the Association to include: Welfare of its members, care for the family members of deceased members and preparing a brighter future for both serving and retired AVSEC personnel in retirement.
Sadiq said that the association apart from being beneficial to its members will also serve as a source of information and intelligence gathering for the system to the benefits of the country.
“After about 30 years of lack of communication, the formation and inauguration of this association is a good thing. We hope and pray it is a continuous one that will be beneficial not only to AVSEC personnel but to the entire system as a whole.
“Ours is to gather information, process it, turn it to intelligence and disseminate to end users timely. Our association will be of very useful assistance to the system,” he asserted.
On the goals of the Association, Sadiq said, “the goals are multifaceted. We have the mind on the welfare of our members. It is very paramount. We then discovered that people with abundance of AVSEC knowledge have left the system without anybody to harness it. That knowledge, we want to tap into for the use of the country. So, we would coming to deliver lectures, we will also have a research team and we want to be source of reliable information and intelligence to those in the field and equally to the government. We also have it at the back of our minds to support the families of our late members and those who are sick.”
Noting that retirement benefits of the retirees may not be enough to take care of their needs, he continued, “we are registered with Corporate Affairs Commission, (CAC). With this, we would have bank accounts and maybe cooperative shops for members as well as hotel facilities and other means by which we can generate revenue to take care of our members without waiting or depending on donations from people and also to turn it around for the good of their families and the society.
In his speech at the event, the first General Manager AVSEC in Nigeria, Dr, Ayo Obilana who went down the memory lane to inform the gathering about evolution of AVSEC in aviation industry in Nigeria, described the service as the once rejected stone which has turned to be the corner stone of the mansion.
He noted that many organisations and personalities in Nigeria who were ignorant of the roles of AVSEC in the aviation industry and the economy in general, never wanted AVSEC to be.
Obilana who prayed for the repose of the souls of AVSEC personnel who fell galantly during service, recalled that it took the resilience of the founding fathers and people of goodwill to ensure the survival of AVSEC unit now a directorate in FAAN till date.
The Chief Executive Officer of Selective Security Service who said the idea of forming the association came up in 2021 but was stepped down because of COVID-19 Pandemic, recalled that it was resuscitated after the death of one of the leading voices calling for its formation.
He, however, appealed to members to keep spreading the news about the formation of the association and the benefits therein.
The secretary of the association, Deacon Bamidele Adewummi gave a briefing on the association registration with document during the official launching.
The incumbent Airport Chief of Security (ACOS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, DGM Ishieku Anthony ldokogi fsi, used the opportunity to present the chronicle of honour of ACOS at the airport from 1988 to date for unveiling.
The unveiling was performed by the former Managing Director of FAAN, Capt Hamisu Yakubu who was assisted by the immediate past DASS FAAN, Group Capt USA Sadiq Rtd.
Lectures on how to live successful life in retirement were delivered by professionals in their respective fields.
First lecture which dwelled on financial planning for retirees was delivered by a financial expert, Mr. Adeniyi Akomolede (FCA)
While the second lecture on legal aspect of family inheritance (Will) was delivered by Barrister Joseph Aketu.
