The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah has disclosed that the aviation policy was last reviewed 12 years ago. So thus, a new policy in the sector will improve security and safety of crew members and airline passengers.
Based on this background, she presented the new policy, tagged “The Revised National Civil Aviation Policy 2013” (NCAP), to aviation stakeholders and the public yesterday at the headquarters of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja.
Speaking on the new aviation policy, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Folu Akinkuotu stressed the need for stronger regulations on the aviation industry in Nigeria, stating that 65 per cent of accidents were due to human error and decried an alleged laxity in the operations of the NCAA.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation reform, Ms. Ann Enne-Itta, represented the minister. According to her, the new policy “identifies and addresses the overall benefits of connectivity and globalization of our economy, with particular emphasis on investment in airline operations, infrastructure and collaboration with private sector, local communities and other stakeholders.”
The revised policy is in line with the new vision and mission of the aviation master plan and covers state safety programme; accident investigation and prevention, monitoring and control of general aviation; introduction of an effective search and rescue mechanism as well as the development of an effective and sustainable economic regulatory framework.
The NCAP 2013, according to the minister, goes in sync with section 769(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 and consists of 10 critical parts of the aviation industry, which “would be reviewed every five years or when necessary.”
Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, George Ossi, represented by Clement Dosunmu, while speaking earlier, urged the field operators to keep the ministry abreast of the implementation constrains, adding that the new policy holistically reviewed the policy system, regulatory environment, safety and enabling environment for investors.
In their remarks, the Chief Executive Officers of Overland Aviation, Med-View airlines, IRS airlines and the chairman of Quit Aviation Services, commended the minister for coming up with the new policy, stressing that the previous policy had become cumbersome to implement.