Stakeholders in Nigeria’s protocol and aviation sectors have called for the harmonization of flight procedures under a unified national policy to ensure compliance, enhance safety, and address rising cases of protocol breaches at airports.
This call was made at the 2025 International Protocol Officers Conference (IPOC) held in Lagos on Wednesday, where experts emphasised the urgent need for standardised operational guidelines for protocol officers, especially in aviation-related engagements.
The conference featured three strategic presentations: Introduction to Protocol, Examination of Trending Events and Impact on Protocol Duties, and Protocol and Event Management. Speakers included Mr. Fortune Idu, Convener of IPOC; Dr. Olunifesi Suraj, UNESCO Coordinator; media personality Patrick Doyle; protocol consultant Moses Ekenomo; Ekelem Airhihen of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); and Nosa Aituamen, Assistant Director, News, Radio Nigeria.
Mr. Idu stressed that protocol is the backbone of order in both local and international engagements.
“Protocol serves as a major tool for organising society by holding rules and ethics together like glue. It is the foundation of doing things right,” he said.
He noted that protocol officers play a vital role in ensuring seamless event coordination and travel procedures, adding that their relevance has increased due to rapidly changing global dynamics.
“Protocol is constantly challenged by evolving international affairs—geopolitics, migration, war, technology, environmental crises, and human behaviour. These trends affect event planning, travel facilitation, personnel security, and resource safety,” he said.
Idu called for a shift from rigid, traditional protocol systems to flexible, technology-driven processes capable of responding to modern realities. He also advocated a hybrid protocol framework that balances physical and virtual interactions.
During a panel session, stakeholders stressed the need for continuous professional training to minimise conflicts during official travel procedures. They cited recent breaches by high-profile air travellers, including incidents involving musician Wasiu Ayinde and businesswoman Comfort Emmamson, as examples of protocol abuse that undermine due process.
The panel insisted that flight procedures are internationally regulated and must be enforced in Nigeria without bias or preferential treatment.
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Ekelem Airhihen of FAAN also spoke on the value of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into protocol operations. He said AI can improve efficiency, accelerate decision-making, and enhance record management, though he recommended cautious adoption to safeguard human oversight.
Participants at the conference included representatives from the European Union, ECOWAS Commission, NNPC, Office of the Secretary to the Federation, Nigerian Navy, Africa Aviation and Aerospace University, Ministry of Solid Minerals, Arik Air, Aero Contractors, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria Airspace Management Authority, NEPL, Wema Bank, and officials from Oyo, Yobe and Katsina states, among others.
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