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Aviation expert and former Director of Flight Operations of defunct Nigeria Airways, Capt. Dele Ore said the regulatory function of the Nigerian Civil Aviation has been weakened over time, saying the system is creeping below minimum requirement in safety oversight.
In a state of the aviation industry briefing in Lagos, the veteran aircraft pilot said it was high time the Federal Government caused the removal of chief executive officers of some of the aviation agencies for lack of performance particularly the Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
Ore said his advocacy for the restructuring of the aviation regulatory body stems from the fact that the Air Worthiness Directorate and Licensing Directorates of the agency are manned by people he claimed are not competent and lack the character to effectively regulate the sector.
Ore, who was also immediate President of Aviation Round Table (ART), lamented that training of licensing personnel and those critical areas have been stopped.
His words, “In NCAA, training has been stopped. A weak DG is one that allows any anything goes. Airworthiness has been lowered. A system that does not make for good and credible acquisition of Air Operators Certificate (AOC) is a fraud.”
He backed the closure of Abuja airport for total overhauling of the airport runway, saying work on that failed facility was long overdue, decrying the position of some airlines championed by Chairman, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) Capt. Noggie Meggison that the pot-holed runway should be kept open for smaller airplanes to land.
He likened as amateurish the position of AON to use an unsafe runway for flight operations.
“Kaduna is the best airport to divert to for aircraft. The airport has improved its landing facilities. Kano airport would have been ideal because it has two runways. The airport is 150 feet above sea level and it is very hot. Kaduna has been tested. I was shocked to hear AON say the Abuja airport runway should be managed.”
The Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika had said that the closure of the Abuja airport is proposed to last for six weeks. During the period of closure, Kaduna International Airport shall serve as the alternative.
Following the proposed closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), recently approved N1.1 billion for the repairs of the Kaduna Airport terminal.
According to the minister, “The contractor has accepted to work within that six months.”
Sirika had stated that the imperative to shutdown of the airport for a period of six weeks was as a result of negligence in terms of maintenance of the runway by previous governments, adding that this administration with safety and security as its priority, has decided to face the problem head-on.
He urged the cooperation of all stakeholders to enable them go through this transition period with minimal discomfort.
The runway at Abuja which was constructed in 1982 has exceeded its design lifespan of 20 years which accounts for a number of distressed and failed portions. This situation has reduced the riding quality and safety margin in operating into the airport.
The Minister noted that the continued deterioration of this facility would eventually make operations unsafe, stressing the need to carry out urgent repairs and resurfacing of the existing runway.
Following the proposed closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), recently approved N1.1 billion for the repairs of the Kaduna Airport terminal.
According to the minister, “The contractor has accepted to work within that six months.”
Sirika had stated that the imperative to shutdown of the airport for a period of six weeks was as a result of negligence in terms of maintenance of the runway by previous governments, adding that this administration with safety and security as its priority, has decided to face the problem head-on.
He urged the cooperation of all stakeholders to enable them go through this transition period with minimal discomfort.
The runway at Abuja which was constructed in 1982 has exceeded its design lifespan of 20 years which accounts for a number of distressed and failed portions. This situation has reduced the riding quality and safety margin in operating into the airport.
The Minister noted that the continued deterioration of this facility would eventually make operations unsafe, stressing the need to carry out urgent repairs and resurfacing of the existing runway.
Credit: Wole Shadare
