...inspects Abuja airport, agencies offices
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo says, the accomplishment of the International Civil Organization Organization, ICAO, audit is a shared national responsibility and as such, has been the focus of the Federal Government.
The Minister stated this when he met with the visiting team of ICAO in Abuja.
The visit is precipitated on the much-awaited audit of the nation’s airports and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority-NCCA for the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
He emphasized that Nigeria was fully aware that ensuring safe, secure, efficient and environmentally-friendly civil aviation system, with modern and adequate infrastructure required adequately funded autonomous Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and an Independent National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), together with well- established aviation service providers.
Mr. Keyamo in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Mr. Tunde Moshood said, in its bid to ensure continuous compliance with ICAO Standards and to meet the challenges of a rapidly growing air transport sector, Nigerian Government has continued to maintain and to reposition the industry for efficiency and the path of sustainable growth.
“Whilst Nigeria is not new to audits, no stone was left unturned in the preparation for this audit, to ensure a significant rise in the effective implementation of all the safety functional areas.” Safety remains Nigeria’s priority, non-negotiable and it supersedes all other considerations for civil aviation”.
According to the minister, the mission of the ICAO team to Nigeria is an important one aimed at, not only promoting the global civil aviation safety through the monitoring of Contracting States’ safety oversight capabilities but improving their systems.
“Nigeria no doubt recognizes the role of ICAO which is aimed at constantly addressing and enhancing the global aviation safety through coordinated activities”.
At the end of the visit, the minister embarked on an inspection tour of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and departments of the NCAA office by the Director General of NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu and accompanied by Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency-NiMET where he was a guest presenter on Weather Forecast.