DG NCAA seeks media support for successful ICAO audits
The director general of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Musa Nuhu has urged the media and other aviation stakeholders to join hands to ensure the success of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) audits scheduled for the first quarter of 2022.
Nuhu made the appeal on Monday in his speech at the opening ceremony of the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) training programme at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.
The director general who was represented by the assistant general manager, directorate of air transport regulation, Kaduna regional office of the agency, Mr. Lulufa Vongtau, said the agency was fully prepared for the impending audits adding that the league has provided a platform which has helped in projecting activities and laudable achievements of NCAA to the public vis-à-vis our oversight functions.
He praised the media for its critical contribution to the growth of global aviation.
“Your day-to-day reportage has shown that most of you have a deep knowledge of aviation and its goings-on.
“The press is the Fourth Estate of the Realm. In other words, the fourth arm of government. This reference was derived from both explicit capacity of advocacy and implicit ability to report issues.
“You have been with us in this journey and you have been worthy partners. Every success story about aviation in Nigeria cannot be written without the contributions of all of you.
One of your many contributions is the LAAC Annual Conference which has provided, and still providing veritable platform over the years for stakeholders to converge and dissect pertinent contemporary aviation issues with a view to proffering workable solutions that will move the industry forward.
“In my opinion, this training is an indication of that spirit of camaraderie that had existed (still existing) between NCAA and LAAC,” he said.
He therefore urged the media to eschew sensationalism capable of putting the nation in bad light.
“Therefore, I will advise anyone to endeavour to verify and confirm his/her stories before publishing, if in doubt. It is my view that your watchdog role plays a very important part in fostering stability in the industry.
“These balancing, developmental and promotional stories are the hallmark of a burgeoning aviation industry like ours. Let us present our aviation industry as the most improved that it is,” he said.
On the audits, Nuhu said “we are fully prepared’ adding that “on the heels of the existing regime of robust regulations and over eight years of zero accident in commercial flight operation, we are primed to excel again.”
He further stated that continuous human capacity development “is one of my administration core values.”
He stressed that the NCAA considers training (including initial, on-the-job and recurrent training) as a key component of aviation development in Nigeria.
“In actual fact, training and retraining is a capital project for us as it is critical to our operations as the country’s apex regulatory authority for civil aviation in Nigeria.
“Our personnel are exposed to appropriate trainings all over the world so as to maintain and enhance their competence.”
He said the yearly pilgrimage to NCAT for training is not a coincidence, but a requirement to the growth of the aviation industry.
“Personnel qualification and training is one of the critical elements and associated components recognised by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for an effective State aviation security oversight system. These eight critical element encompass the whole spectrum of civil aviation security activities.
“Consequently, it requires and provides for training to the aviation industry on the implementation of applicable aviation security requirements.
“This is with a view to ensuring effective implementation of security-related Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) contained in the Annexes to the Chicago Convention,” he stressed.
The director general also said as new airlines come on stream, the agency has intensified its regulatory role.
“There is no doubt that there is increased confidence in the sector as new airlines are coming in and existing operators are expanding their routes.
“Expectedly, our coast of surveillance programme and other oversight responsibilities as the regulator of the industry have increased correspondingly,” he added.
(News Gazette)
