Worried by the evolving threats from terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, the Republic of Cameroon’s Minister of Transport, Professor Robert Nkili, has expressed gratitude to the Council President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, for the United Nations aviation agency’s recent assistance and capacity-building efforts.

“At our request, ICAO conducted a comprehensive Aviation Security and Facilitation (AVSEC/FAL) assessment in Cameroun in 2014, which subsequently led to our agreement to a six-phase State Improvement Plan (SIP) last November,” said Nkili.

The minister also disclosed that “We began to implement the SIP response this January and expect to have it completed by September.”

Nkili said this during a meeting to discuss Cameroun’s compliance with international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), Cameroon/ICAO bilateral cooperation, as well as further technical assistance that ICAO may be able to provide Cameroon going forward.

The assessment mission reviewed Cameroun’s AVSEC programmes, training development, quality control systems, and crisis management planning and security/facilitation procedures at the Yaoundé-Nsimalen Airport.

Once its current SIP responses have been fully established, Cameroun has already signalled its willingness for a follow-on ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) visit to measure its progress.

“The assistance and capacity-building, which ICAO is providing to Cameroun in this instance is part of a broader regional effort which has seen similar programmes commenced with Chad, Niger and Nigeria,” Aliu said.

He also explained that “It is essential that international airports and the civil aviation infrastructure of States facing potential threats are safeguarded to the fullest extent possible. ICAO is placing significant priority today on ensuring that all of our Member States benefit from the effective implementation of our SARPs and that we leave No Country Left Behind where the benefits of safe, secure and reliable air transport are concerned.”