NCAA, NMDPRA to deny unauthorized fuelers access to airports

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA in collaboration with the Nigeria Mainstream Petroleum Downstream Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA is to withdraw access of some aviation fuel suppliers into Nigeria airports.

This is coming on the heels of the ongoing investigation into fuel contamination discovered in some aircraft engines about a month ago.

The Director General, Civil Aviation, Captain Musa Nuhu at a news conference via zoom with aviation correspondents said, the action is to ensure flight safety in Nigeria and nip the trend in the bud.

He said, the issue of fuel contamination is a stand alone case but alarming thus the need to critically look at the entire process of the supply value chain starting from outside the sector.

“Investigations are ongoing, we are in collaboration with the NMDPRA, we have gotten list of all companies that are approved by them, unfortunately, we find out that there are some companies that find their way into aviation that are not approved by them and immediate action is being taken”.

The DGCA emphasized that it is the responsibility of the operators, pilots and engineers to make sure that contaminated fuel does not get to the system.

Speaking on the recent Jabiru J430 plane crash in Lagos, Captain Nuhu said, stakeholders and professionals should exercise restraint and wait for the outcome of the investigation by the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB and stop commenting on the probable cause of the accident.

“Anybody that speculates of the cause of the crash is just making mere speculation and we should avoid that and wait for NSIB to release the report and be sure shortly”.

He said, the safety record of the Nigeria aviation industry would continue to be enhanced, adding that the signing of the civil aviation Masterplan with the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO and its forthcoming audit in Nigeria between August and September this year are ways to boost air safety.

“Arrangements are ongoing, a lot has been done and there are still some work to be done, we are working with the ICAO team from West and Central Africa, WACAF ICAO office based in Dakar and we have a team from BAGGASO too, Bangui Accord Safety Oversight Organization”.

Captain Nuhu disclosed that before the end of this year, some Nigerian airlines would open up more regional routes and also fly intercontinental.