By Sunday Ameh
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Army to deploy canine units at airports nationwide as part of efforts to strengthen aviation security.
The agreement was signed on Friday at the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Barracks, Asokoro, Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the NCAA, the partnership provides a framework for the deployment, training and development of canine units to enhance security across Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure.
The authority explained that the collaboration would also cover the qualification of canine trainers and handlers by the Nigerian Army, licensing of the personnel by the NCAA, as well as the training of the agency’s aviation security inspectors.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director of Aviation Security, Ben Omogo, who represented the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, said canine operations had become an indispensable component of modern aviation security due to evolving security threats.
Omogo commended the Nigerian Army for partnering with the NCAA to improve safety and security within the country’s aviation sector.
Also speaking, the Provost Marshal of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. M. O. Erebulu, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, described canine units as a critical force multiplier capable of improving explosive detection, tracking and search operations.
He said the partnership reflected the commitment of both institutions to safeguarding Nigeria’s aviation industry through professionalism and adherence to global best practices, while commending the NCAA for initiating the collaboration.
The NCAA’s Director of Corporate Services, Rebecca Eyiuche, described the agreement as a strategic milestone, expressing confidence that it would deepen institutional collaboration, facilitate knowledge transfer and ensure the long-term sustainability of aviation security in the country.
Canine units are widely used in airports around the world to detect explosives, firearms and other prohibited items, as well as support search and rescue operations.
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