NCAA, ICAO, UNEP Move to Phase Out Toxic Firefighting Foams at Nigerian Airports
By Cynthia Okere, Lagos
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is working with the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, and the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, to phase out firefighting foams containing potentially harmful fluorinated chemicals at Nigerian airports.
The initiative is being implemented under the Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment, FIRE, Project, which seeks to replace firefighting foams containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, with safer fluorine-free alternatives while maintaining required aviation fire-safety standards.
Director-General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Najomo, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the programme when the NCAA hosted a technical mission involving ICAO and UNEP at its corporate headquarters in Abuja.
Najomo said the transition reflects the aviation industry’s increasing focus on combining stringent safety requirements with environmental responsibility.
The initiative is expected to support feasibility studies and the development of plans for the gradual withdrawal of PFAS-containing firefighting foams at selected Nigerian airports.
The technical mission is also assessing airport firefighting infrastructure and systems as Nigeria prepares for the transition to fluorine-free alternatives. Reports on the Nigerian mission indicate that inspections are being undertaken in Abuja and Port Harcourt, while Lagos is also expected to form part of the technical assessment process.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, has backed the initiative, stressing the need to ensure that the move towards environmentally safer firefighting agents does not compromise the effectiveness of rescue and firefighting operations at airports.
PFAS are a large group of synthetic fluorinated chemicals. UNEP says some PFAS are hazardous to human health and the environment, while certain members of the chemical family are listed as persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention.
Airport rescue and firefighting services have historically relied on specialised foams because of their effectiveness in combating fires involving aviation fuel. The transition therefore requires careful assessment of existing firefighting vehicles, foam systems and equipment to ensure that replacement products can deliver the necessary performance.
The FIRE Project covers Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa and runs from 2025 to 2030. UNEP records show that the programme has a total value of about $82.5 million, comprising a $10 million Global Environment Facility grant and approximately $72.5 million in co-financing.
Across the participating countries, the project is expected to support the safe removal of thousands of tonnes of PFAS-contaminated material from firefighting equipment and the disposal of PFAS-based foam concentrate.
For Nigeria, the programme brings together the NCAA, FAAN, ICAO, UNEP, the Federal Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders to develop an appropriate transition framework while ensuring that airport emergency response and aviation safety are not compromised.