Foreign airlines to honour Marwa, others

By Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

The President of the Association of Foreign Airlines Representatives of Nigeria (AFARN) Mr Kingsley Nwokoma says Chairman, of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Buba Marwa (Rtd) will be presented with a prestigious award for waging war on drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Nwokoma, who spoke to journalists in Lagos to announce the AFARN Safety Summit and Awards 2022 with the theme, “Aviation Safety In A Global Distressed Economy: The Place of Nigeria”, disclosed that the aviation industry was the most affected by COVID-19, adding that it took a long time before the sector recovered.

His words, “The airports are some of the major gateways, and people who smuggle drugs have always been caught. A couple of weeks ago, we woke up with the news of a close to $300 million drug that was discovered in Ikorodu. AFARN has deemed it necessary to honour him. He will be getting an award that day and will also be inducted into the hall of fame”.

The economies of the world according to him were distressed further by the Russia-Ukraine war, hinting that the theme of this summit is in view of the new world order and the place of Nigeria in terms of aviation security.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika will be the special guest of honour, while the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu will be the host. The major theme of the event will be presented by the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

“The MD of FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, the DG of NCAA, Capt Musa Nuhu MD of NAMA, Lawrence Pwajok, Commissioner Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Akin Olateru will also be inducted into the AFARN Aviation Hall of Fame. Of course, there will be other awards that would be given out that day”.

“Other activities include the presentation of the integrity award to the AVSEC airport team of FAAN. Of late, there have been a lot of missing items that have been returned to their rightful owners. It is for them to know that we appreciate what they do.

“We commend them and let them know that we are able to do more. There is something we always do during AFARN yearly summit. We are presenting a humanitarian cheque to Mkar Orphanage in Benue State”.