•NCAA meets airlines, marketers over contaminated fuel saga
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has assured that the scheduled audit of Lagos and Abuja airports, by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), would go on as planned despite challenges in Lagos.
Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu, said though the theft of approach lighting units at Lagos airport was embarrassing, the impact would be minimal on the entire audit.
In a related development, the apex regulatory authority has also summoned airlines, fuel marketers, and suppliers to a meeting over the incident of contaminated aviation fuel and other issues that led to the suspension of all B737s in the fleet of Max Air.
The Runway 18R of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, has been out of service for about two months and was awaiting repairs when its approach lights suddenly developed wings and flew away a fortnight ago. Findings showed that it was the second theft recorded on the runway in less than a month.
The security breach raised concerns among stakeholders, especially with ICAO audits just days away. ICAO audits the aviation safety and aviation security oversight capacities of its 193 member-states. In the safety domain, these audits are carried out under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
Already, there are jitters that the NCAA may downgrade some of the nation’s airports over increasing insecurity and gaps in the system. Two of such aerodromes to be affected are Lagos and Abuja airports.
Nuhu, however, said the ICAO audits are restricted to only the legislation, resources and other capacities, which State governments establish to effectively implement ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in each area.
He said: “The runway lighting theft is a problem for us. Even without the audit, it is a problem, and we are discussing with the airport operator (FAAN), to see how measures can be made to prevent this occurrence in the future. It’s not only unfortunate; I think it’s embarrassing for the country for people to carry out such a heinous act.
“As regards to the audit, we have what is called the aeronautical information publication. We also noted that the runway was out of use before this criminal act. Runway 18 Right International Airport has been closed for maintenance and there is a NOTAM accordingly.
“There are procedures for handling such issues and that is being done, NAMA is doing some, while we are doing some. There is notification from the AIP Aeronautical Information Publication and also the NOTAMs. As long as you do that, you are notifying the world of deficiencies within your system and that is it. That takes care of that. If you have deficiencies and you do not notify, that’s where you have a problem.”
He further noted that the NCAA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), airliners, pilots, fuel deport operators, aircraft maintenance officers and other stakeholders would be part of a committee to ensure that aviation fuel quality is constant.
Nuhu said: “All facets of the aviation fuel ecosystem must be investigated to arrive at the true situation,” adding that “the investigation is not necessarily to indict anyone but to strengthen safety in the aviation industry.”
The DG said aviation fuel quality breach has dire consequences and is multifaceted, international in nature, and not limited to scheduled airlines alone.
Speaking at the meeting, Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, said they were not treating the issue with levity as they have launched an investigation into the matter.
“We are all stakeholders and travellers. We took this incident seriously. I directed my colleagues to trace the root cause so that whatever steps we will take, we will bring stability, confidence and improve the safety level,” he pledges.
