NCAA expresses Nigeria’s readiness for ICAO USOAP audit in August

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has expressed Nigeria’s readiness for the forth-coming International Civil Organization, ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme, USOAP, coming up in August this year.

The Director General, Civil Aviation, Captain Musa Nuhu who stated this at the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondent, LAAC 27th annual conference in Lagos said, they are on top of their duties, leaving nothing to chance in resolving deficiencies identified through the ICAO USOAP activities. 

The International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) is a programme through which ICAO monitors the fulfillment of the safety oversight obligations by it Member States.

The audit focuses on eight critical elements of a safety oversight system, these are primary aviation legislation and civil aviation regulations, personnel licensing, airworthiness of aircraft, aircraft accident and incident investigation, air navigation services, aerodrome and ground aids, aircraft operations an civil aviation organization.

From left: MD/CEO Nigerian Air Management Agency (NAMA), Mr. Tayib Odunowo; Rep. DG NiMet, Director Research and Training (NiMet), Mr. Effiom Oku; Chairman, League of Airports Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), Mr. Segun Koiki; Representing Permanent Secretary Ministry of Aviation and aerospace, Director, Air Transport Management Department, Mr. Hassan Ejibunu and Rep of DGCA, Director, Airworthiness, NCAA, Mr. Gbolahan Abatan, at the 27th Annual Conference in Lagos.

According to the Director General, Civil Aviation, Captain Musa Nuhu all areas of assessment have been covered and all gaps closed.

Represented at the conference by the Director, Airworthiness, Mr. Gbolahan Abatan, the DGCA emphasized that air safety in Nigeria has kept improving.

“ICAO conducts the audit of every member state about every three or four years We are prime to excel again as Nigeria has a lot riding on the modest credentials of existing regime of robust regulations and almost-a-decade of zero accident in schedule flight operation”.

Managing Director, Nigeria Airspace Management, NAMA, Mr. Tayib Odunowo said, the airspace had been improved on and its manpower enhanced for effective and seamless air navigation.

“We are moving from ground based to satellite based air navigation Nigeria is currently implementing what is called SBAS, Satellite Based Augmentation System”.

In the area of accident Investigation, the Director General, Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, Mr. Akin Olateru said, with its requisite manpower, equipment and timely release of accident reports, many countries are seeking partnership with Nigeria in the area of training and accident investigation.

“Our reports today are being used as Cranfield University for case study, most of reports today comes back from the manufacturer with no comment”.

Chairman of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents, LAAC, Mr. Olusegun Koiki while stressing the theme of the conference: ‘Aviation Industry: Changing Times, Changing Strategies’ appealed to all stakeholders to join hands with the aviation agencies to grow the industry as changing times require new strategies for Nigeria’s aviation industry development.

“We definitely need to do things differently if we expect Nigeria’s aviation industry to realize its full potential in Africa and the world, a feat that the location of the country has already positioned it to achieve, but for avoidable human factors. No local aviation sector”.