Aituamen Igbinosa
The recent confirmation of Captain Chris Najomo as the substantive Director General, Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been hailed by aviation stakeholders as a positive development for the industry.
Last week, the Nigerian senate confirmed his appointment as the NCAA Director General after one year on acting capacity.
Secretary General, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), comrade Olayinka Abioye commended Najomo’s performance as acting DG, particularly his focus on staff welfare, citing the resolution of outstanding staff stagnation and indebtedness.
He urged NCAA workers to reciprocate this commitment by increasing productivity, efficiency, and service delivery, dispelling any doubts about their capabilities.
Looking ahead, the NAAPE scribe called for a series of stakeholder meetings, beginning with airline operators, to address critical issues within the industry and foster collaboration.
These meetings, he said, should create a platform for open communication and strategic planning.
He also emphasized the need for a comprehensive engagement involving all sectors under the NCAA’s purview, promoting a shared vision for the industry’s future.
Comrade Abioye noted that some necessary improvements might involve structural, administrative, or managerial adjustments, rather than solely financial resources.
He urged Najomo to exercise his authority as the industry’s “policeman,” ensuring compliance with regulations and addressing issues like flight delays promptly and decisively.
The NAAPE scribe stressed the importance of reliable air travel, especially given the condition of Nigerian roads, and the reliance of the public on aviation services.
Chairman, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN Branch, Comrade John Ogbe urged captain Najomo to conduct a comprehensive safety and financial audit of the airline to identify areas of concern and potential risks.
“He should quickly move on to resolving them. A key recommendation is the immediate conduct of both safety and financial audits of all airlines operating in Nigeria”.
To bolster safety oversight, he proposed the creation of a dedicated safety team within the NCAA, adding that, this team, reporting directly to the DGCA, would be responsible for providing real-time information on aircraft airworthiness and other crucial safety-related data.
“Prioritizing safety should be something that should be very important and very paramount to him”
He highlighted the recent spate of near-miss incidents involving aircraft, urging captain Najomo to take decisive steps to rectify the underlying causes and prevent future occurrences.
While Secretary General, Aviation Safety Roundtable Initiatives ASRTI, Mr. Olu Ohunayo harped on implementation of safety resolutions, surveillance amongst others.
He acknowledged Najomo’s experience and performance, particularly his ability to galvanize NCAA staff, emphasizing the need for him to now focus on critical areas.
“The confirmation was expected and deserved. He has been able to galvanize his workers and has the solid support from the NCAA staff itself.”
With the confirmation secured, Mr. Ohunayo advised Najomo to consolidate his efforts and address outstanding issues.
He highlighted three key areas that require immediate attention: safety and surveillance over certified entities, records of issued certificates and licenses, and the implementation of safety resolutions, including legal sanctions and proper documentation.
“Those key three areas that did not perform well during the ICAO audit should be his major priority for the year”.
He also encouraged the new DGCA to continue the ongoing process of transitioning all departments to IT-based, online processing, phasing out analog systems.