Nigeria’s Aviation Sector Prioritises Emotional Intelligence and Unity for Safer Skies

The 2025 Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Safety Week concluded in Lagos with a powerful message that is set to reshape the future of aviation safety in the country: fostering unity, emotional intelligence, and cohesive collaboration among all aviation stakeholders is now as vital as technical expertise. The week-long event, themed “Navigating Conflict for a Safer Aviation in Nigeria,” brought together policymakers, regulators, and operators for an in-depth dialogue that placed the spotlight squarely on the human factors driving both risk and resilience in Nigeria’s airspace.

At the heart of the discussions was FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, who set the tone by challenging the sector to rethink its approach to conflict. “Conflict is not a disruption; it is a reality. What matters is how we respond,” she declared at the Executive Forum. Kuku’s candid assessment underscored that behavioural issues—ranging from unruly passengers to inter-agency friction—now pose risks equal to those of mechanical failures. She issued a clarion call to abandon fragmented, “siloed efforts” and instead embrace safety strategies rooted in collaboration, empathy, and mutual respect.

Kuku highlighted FAAN’s ongoing initiatives, including robust conflict de-escalation training for frontline staff and strengthened inter-agency coordination, as essential ingredients in building a “conflict-aware, solution-driven, and human-centred aviation ecosystem.” Her vision is one where safety is not just about compliance, but about cultivating a culture in which every individual sees themselves as a guardian of collective wellbeing.

This message resonated beyond FAAN, finding strong reinforcement from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). Representing Managing Director Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Director of Air Traffic Services Mr. Tayo John reminded participants, “Safety is not just a regulatory obligation, it is the foundation of aviation itself.” While NAMA’s investments in advanced navigation technology and personnel training are crucial, Ahmed cautioned that no level of automation or infrastructure can replace the power of teamwork. “True safety depends on communication, respect, and collaboration,” he emphasised, urging for a shift in mindset across the sector.

The legislative perspective was brought into focus by Hon. David Idris Zacharias, Chairman of the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations. Zacharias reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to a stronger legal framework for aviation safety, citing ongoing work on the Occupational Safety and Health Bill and the establishment of dedicated budget lines for safety initiatives across government agencies. “The legislature will continue to back initiatives that make our airspace safer and our workers more protected,” he pledged, signalling a new era of policy support for comprehensive safety culture.

Perhaps the most sobering insights came from Hon. Yakubu Dati, former FAAN spokesperson and current Chairman of the Governing Council at the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede. Drawing on international data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Dati highlighted a worrying global rise in unruly passenger incidents—now reported on one in every 568 flights. He referenced recent Nigerian cases, such as the Ibom Air assault and the Kwam 1 airport altercation, as cautionary tales where emotional escalation turned routine enforcement into critical safety risks. “Every conflict left unresolved carries a cost—safety risks, reputational damage, and legal fallout,” Dati warned.

Dati championed the integration of Emotional Intelligence (EI) into aviation training. He argued that skills like self-awareness, empathy, and calm persuasion are becoming as essential as technical proficiency. His proposed “EI-Led Conflict Navigation Model” encourages aviation professionals to detect early warning signs, de-escalate situations with respect, and implement post-incident debriefings for ongoing improvement.

Rounding off the event, FAAN’s General Manager of Safety Services, Mrs. Ifeoma Mba, reflected that safety within FAAN “is not just a regulation but a value system.” She credited Mrs. Kuku’s leadership and the dedication of all staff and partners who have kept Nigeria’s airports “safe, secure, and efficient.” Mba stressed that vigilance and discipline must become daily habits, not just annual pledges, if Nigeria hopes to maintain and improve its safety record.

The consensus emerging from the 2025 FAAN Safety Week is clear: while technology may guide aircraft through the skies, it is human harmony, emotional intelligence, and unity that truly underpin the safety of aviation. For African aviation professionals, Nigeria’s pivot towards a more collaborative and emotionally intelligent safety culture offers valuable lessons. In an industry where the stakes are high and the pace of change relentless, building trust, respect, and open communication among all stakeholders will be critical for the sector’s sustainable growth and resilience.

As the Nigerian aviation industry looks to the future, the imperative is not just to navigate the skies, but to skillfully manage the spaces between people—with intelligence, empathy, and a renewed commitment to shared safety.