In preparation for the commencement of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) earlier this month, experts had called on aviation authorities to rectify the identified deficiencies within the sector….CONTINUE READING
These gaps primarily involve a shortage of technical personnel, including Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) and Accident Investigators, within key aviation agencies.
According to experts, the agencies grappling with a shortage of technical staff include the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Additional challenges include recent instances of aviation fuel contamination that led to the grounding of Max Air and raised concerns about the regulatory oversight provided by the NCAA over fuel marketers.
Moreover, recent incidents involving the vandalism of cables at Lagos airport and theft of aviation runway lighting equipment have raised security concerns.
In January 2022, suspected thieves reportedly broke into an Arik Air aircraft parked at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, making off with valuable gadgets, including the flight management computer. Runway robbery attempts have also been foiled, involving Arik Air’s aircraft.
Furthermore, the recent downgrade of the Port Harcourt International Airport’s fire category due to non-functional fire services has added to the sector’s challenges.
In December 2021, an incident occurred in which an unaware auto-technician test-drove a faulty car on Runway 18L, nearly colliding with an oncoming Max Air jet.
These issues were highlighted before the audit began, but the failure to address them before the audit’s commencement has placed the industry at a disadvantage.
However, following the audit, it has been reported that Nigeria scored 70 percent in the ICAO Universal Safety Audit Program Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA), indicating that Nigeria did not meet the audit’s standards.
