NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Aviation

NCAA grants operator certificate to UZMA aviation services

113 total views today

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to UZMA Aviation Services Limited, authorising the commencement of commercial flight operations.

The certificate was presented on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Chris Najomo, the Acting D-G of NCAA, commended UZMA Aviation Services for meeting all regulatory requirements and standards during the application process.

He urged the airline to prioritise safety, security, efficiency, and excellence in its operations.

In response, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, Chairman of UZMA Aviation Services Limited, expressed gratitude to the NCAA for its support and guidance throughout the certification process.

“We appreciate the trust the NCAA has placed in us by granting the AOC.

“We recognise the significance of this responsibility and are committed to upholding the highest standards of safety, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance,” Abubakar said.

He emphasised the airline’s commitment to adopting best practices, ensuring safety and reliability in all aspects of its operations.

He also highlighted the importance of security, assuring that advanced measures would be implemented to protect passengers and staff.

Abubakar added that the airline’s IT systems would feature robust safeguards to protect sensitive data and maintain operational integrity.

“Our safety policy is the cornerstone of our operations. We are dedicated to exceeding safety standards, ensuring every passenger travels with confidence and peace of mind.

“Your safety is our mission, and we work to make it a reality every day,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Aviation

FG promises advanced digitisation to enhance aviation safety

101 total views today

By Gabriel Agbeja

Mr Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development says the Federal Government will advance digitalisation in the aviation sector to enhance safety and security.

Keyamo made this declaration at the inauguration of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Flight Data Centre (FDC) on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to modernising various sectors, moving from analog to more digital and efficient systems.

Keyamo explained that the FDC would help NCAA to regulate more effectively by improving efficiency, saving costs, and enhancing the customer experience within the aviation sector.

“One of our five-point agenda is to improve safety within the sector. This initiative directly contributes to that goal,” Keyamo said.

He emphasised the importance of the FDC in enhancing safety, noting, “This system is not just for handling incidents or serious events; it can be used routinely to track flight patterns, human errors, and mechanical issues during flights.”

Capt. Chris Najomo, the Acting Director-General of NCAA, added that the FDC was a vital part of modern aviation, responsible for collecting, processing, and analysing vast amounts of flight data.

He outlined the key components of the FDC, which include data acquisition, data processing, event detection, and a feedback loop.

Najomo stated that the FDC would help enhance Nigeria’s global credibility by aligning NCAA with international best practices and boosting global confidence in Nigeria’s aviation safety standards.

“As an ICAO Contracting State, Nigeria is obligated to ensure the highest safety standards, and the NCAA’s collaboration with APS Aerospace Corporation supports this effort,” he said.

He further explained that APS Aerospace, with over 100 years of combined experience in Flight Data and Cockpit/ATC Audio Analysis, worked with the NCAA to train selected staff in Flight Data Analysis (FDA) and Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) systems.

“These systems systematically collect, process, and evaluate flight data to identify trends, anomalies, or safety issues, which are crucial for modern aviation safety management systems (SMS)’’.(NAN)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Abiemwense Moru

Aviation

Women in aviation pledge to advance safety, security in aviation sector

209 total views today

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Women in Aviation International, Nigeria Chapter (WIA-N), a non-profit organisation, has pledged to advance safety and security in the aviation industry.

Its President, Nigeria Chapter, Mrs Rejoice Ndudinachi, made the pledge at the 2024 WIA Annual Conference in Abuja on Thursday.

Ndudinachi assured that Women in Aviation would continue to support and do all it takes to ensure safety and security in the aviation industry “and this, we have been doing and will continue to do.

“In every segment of Nigeria’s aviation industry, women are present and have been making a very significant impact, starting from engineering, management, aero- medical, media, regulation, training, meteorology and security to piloting.

“Ever since WIA was established, the level of commitment and dedication to duties by women in aviation has increased and this has contributed significantly to the numerous achievements that the industry has recorded.”

The president said the members would keep gaining knowledge by attending international WIA conferences on constant basis, urging them to support and cooperate.

“Today, we gather once again as a community of pioneers, advocates, and change makers in aviation. Women in Aviation, Nigeria Chapter is a non-profit organisation. It encourages the advancement of women in all aviation career fields and interests.”

She said the vision of the organisation was to promote public awareness of the accomplishments and contributions of women to aviation development.

According to her, the aims of WIA include fostering, promoting and engaging in aviation education, particularly as it relates to WIA.

Others, she said, were to cultivate, foster and promote interest and understanding among the public on the accomplishments and contributions of women in aviation.

“We also aim to encourage the young ones to build up their future in aviation.”

She said WIA-N had established and inaugurated about 17 Aviation Clubs in schools to provide a platform for networking resources and opportunities for women.

“In pursuit of our aims and objectives, we have embarked on public sensitisation programmes, WIA Scholarships, career talks, and other activities to help the young ones to take up a career in aviation.

“For example, Nigeria got the position of first winner and second winner during the September 2024 International girls in aviation day activity raffle draw. The girls made us proud.

“This year, we organised ‘Girls in Aviation Day’  in almost all the airports in Nigeria with the support of aviation agencies, particularly with the support of these beautiful role models and vision achievers in the house,“she said.

She said the organisation  gave handsome gifts to outstanding children to inspire them to pursue careers in aviation.

She said the theme, “Connect, Engage, Inspire“ perfectly encapsulated the essence of the organisation`s mission, vision, and the journey it had embarked.

“As women in aviation, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to inspire. We inspire each other by sharing stories of perseverance, innovation, and leadership.

“We also inspire the younger ones to take up a career in aviation, `she said. (NAN)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

Aviation

WMO to support Nigeria’s climate resilience efforts- Keyamo

185 total views today

By Gabriel Agbeja

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) on Wednesday pledged to provide technical support to Nigeria in addressing climate change challenges.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo in a statement said WMO’s Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Ko Barrett, made the commitment during a session with Nigeria’s delegation at COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Keyamo stated that Nigeria, as one of the WMO’s Peer Advisors, would benefit from the organisation’s assistance to strengthen climate resilience strategies, particularly in the aviation sector.

He emphasised the interconnectedness of aviation and climate change, noting the need for sustainable practices across all sectors.

Speaking at the Nigerian Pavilion during the celebration of Nigeria Day at COP 29, Keyamo stressed the importance of aligning Nigeria’s aviation and aerospace policies with global climate objectives.

He outlined ongoing initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to cleaner energy sources in the aviation industry.

“Nigeria is fully committed to addressing the global climate crisis. Our aviation sector is undergoing transformative reforms to align with international sustainability standards.

“The commitments we secure here at COP 29 will drive our vision for a resilient and eco-friendly aviation ecosystem,” he stated.

Keyamo also highlighted Nigeria’s potential as a prime destination for green investments in the aviation and aerospace sectors, reaffirming the ministry’s dedication to positioning the country as a leader in sustainable aviation.

He noted that Nigeria’s participation at COP 29 reaffirms its commitment to global partnerships supporting the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Aviation

FG to boost airline passenger experiences through inclusive regulation

373 total views today

By Gabriel Agbeja

Capt. Chris Najomo, Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), says the Federal Government will improve airline passenger experiences through inclusive regulation.

Najomo said this in his opening remarks at the North-Central Regional Air Transportation Summit 2024 in Abuja.

He was represented by Capt. Donald Spiff, NCAA Director, Operations, Licensing and Training.

According to him, efforts will be made towards inclusive regulatory practices that foster sector growth, safety, service excellence, and improved passenger experiences.

“With the support of the minister, we at the NCAA are committed to rebranding, reinventing, and rejuvenating the Nigerian aviation sector for international competitiveness, sustainable growth and development.

“No doubt, a sustainable regulatory framework built on collective engagement and strategic collaboration is critical to achieving operational excellence, enhanced productivity, and sector growth without compromising safety standards.

“This approach, aligned with local and international regulations, is a cornerstone of the NCAA’s Strategic focus,” Najomo said.

He reiterated that the Federal Government would continue to address service deficiencies and poor passenger experiences stemming from inadequate funding.

According to him, the theme of the summit, “Building a Viable Aviation Industry for National Economic Growth and Development”, is designed to foster dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders.

He said that  the specific objectives of the summit included bringing together critical stakeholders to advocate for adequate funding, sound financial management and operational safety in Nigeria’s civil aviation.

He said that the summit would also review and enhance existing service standards to align with international standards and benchmarks set by IATA, ICAO and ACI.

“It will secure commitments from stakeholders to adopt adequate funding and financial management practices in line with the minister’s five-point agenda.

“It will also assessing existing local laws and international regulations to ensure compliance and improve funding, financial management, and safety.

“The summit will help in identifying gaps in infrastructure and technology to support financial management and operational safety, and recommending remedial actions,” he said.

Najomo said that the summit will also consider strengthening airlines and other service providers to enhance operational efficiency and international competitiveness.

He said that the summit would look into supporting the sustainable growth of the local airline industry,  while promoting compliance with national and international obligations.

“Developing a Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) to improve funding, financial management, service excellence, and operational safety.

“At the NCAA, we are optimistic that this summit will make an invaluable contribution to the Civil Aviation Master Plan currently being developed, and accelerate the achievement of both domestic and international goals.

“By enhancing operational efficiency, financial stability, and service excellence, we will create tremendous value for all stakeholders, “ he said.

He said that the NCAA had developed key Strategic Focus Areas (SFAs) as part “NCAA Project 2024”,  which had served as its KPIs and SMART goals for collective corporate governance efforts for 2024.

According to the NCAA boss, the Nigerian economy may be facing significant macroeconomic and developmental challenges, but surmountable.

“They can be overcome through implementing innovative approaches.

“At the highest levels of governance, President Bola Tinubu laid out an Eight-Point Agenda for economic restoration and growth, which redefined presidential priority areas of administration.

“This represented a clarion call for all government agencies to efficiently execute their respective mandates. The aviation sector aligned with the President’s priority areas through a Five-Point Agenda.

“This remains crucial, given the vital role civil aviation plays in national economic development, international trade and investment opportunities, “ he said.

According to him, the summit is timely and critical to achieving the statutory mandate and corporate goals of the NCAA. (NAN)(nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Aviation

NCAA lists compensations for flight delay, cancellation, others

395 total views today

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has affirmed that passengers are entitled to compensation for flight delay, cancellation, luggage delay, missing or loss by airlines.

Mr Michael Achimugu, the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, passengers are entitled for first needs payment of N10,000 on domestic flights when passenger’s luggage is missing and 170 US Dollar on international flights while the luggage is being searched for.

“For domestic flights, the airline has one day to seven days to search for the missing luggage while on international flights, the airline has one day to 21 days to search for the luggage.

“A luggage is said to be lost if not found after seven days search on domestic flights and 21 days search international flights.

The process for compensation for missing g luggage commences after the said luggage is declared missing. Any fees paid for that luggage must also be refunded,” he said.

The director said the refunds for tickets on cancelled or delayed flights should be paid  immediately, if payment was made in cash or within 14 days if it was by bank transfer or any means other than transfer.

According to him, refunds via means other than cash must be made within 14 days. However, some delay might be experienced from submission of required documents for the passenger

Contributing, the NCAA Director of Special Duties, Mr Horatius Egua, urged passengers to know their rights regarding the aviation sector.

He stated that challenges the authority encountered included, lack of awareness among passengers, limited enforcement of consumer rights, inadequate infrastructure and corruption.

“NCAA has emphasised increased passenger education and awareness, strengthening of regulatory agencies, improved airline customer service and enhanced infrastructure development

“By knowing your rights as a consumer, you can advocate for better treatment and services in Nigeria’s aviation sector,” he said.

On her part, Mrs Ifueko Abdulmalik, the Senior Special Adviser to the NCAA Acting Director General, Capt. Chris Najomo, said the airline ought to provide clear terms and conditions and also ensure timely departure and arrival.

According to her, Airline obligations are to provide adequate baggage handling, offer compensation for delays, cancellations, or overbooking and maintain safe and secure aircraft.

“Passengers have rights to know flight schedule, fare, and baggage allowance; right to compensation for flight delays; right to refund for unused tickets (within 7 days) and right to baggage protection.

“Common Issues from the passengers include, flight delays and cancellations, baggage loss, damage, or delay, overbooking and denied boarding, refund and compensation disputes, “ she said. (NAN)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/ Rotimi Ijikanmi

Aviation

Shettima assures airline operators better operating environment

296 total views today

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said that the Federal Government will create a more conducive and better operating environment for airline operations..

Shettima said this on Tuesday at a meeting with stakeholders in the aviation sector under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency if Nigeria (NAN) reports the meeting was part of the federal government’s efforts to address Foreign Exchange issues in the sector.

The meeting was also to address the backlog of payments with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the airline operators of Nigeria.

Addressing newsmen after the closed door meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, underscored the fragile nature of airline operations, stressing that, “little thing can take an airline out of the market”.

He stressed the need for continued support for airlines in line with global practice to ensure the sector’s sustainability and growth.

” All over the world, airlines are supported to support the economy. It is not elitist,” he said

Onyema particularly praised the federal government’s bold step in signing the Cape Town Convention (CTC) Practice Directions.

He said the convention would help to reduce the cost of airline operations in the nation’s aviation sector.

Signed on Sept. 12,  the CTC Practice Direction is meant to restore investors’ confidence in the nation’s aviation sector and enable domestic airline operators to dry lease aircraft, among others.

” What you did on Thursday is going to open up this country to become an economic powerhouse,” he said.

The Air Peace Airline boss called for additional measures to support the industry’s growth, suggesting that the Central Bank of Nigeria could give airline operators a window within their system.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Special Adviser to the President on Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), & Investment, described the meeting as “fruitful”.

Oduwole assured that the federal government would continue to explore ways of enhancing the business environment in the country (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Aviation

Efficient airspace management key to economic devt. – NAMA

219 total views today

By Gabriel Agbeja

Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) says efficient airspace and airport management is vital to economic development in Africa.

Mr Farouk Umar, NAMA  Managing Director made the assertion on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a 5-day international workshop on capacity building for Airport workers and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC).

Speaking at the event organised by NAMA, Umar said, enhanced capacity of workers would lead to smoother and more predictable operations, better scheduling, reduce delays, and improved passenger experiences

“This efficiency is not only beneficial to passengers but also to airlines and airport operators, leading to a more robust and resilient aviation sector.

‘`It will ensure that our airspace is managed efficiently, minimise congestion and reduce the risk of accidents.

“It will also enable us to handle increased air traffic without compromising safety standards,” he said

Umar expressed optimism that the workshop would be an opportunity to learn and implement best practices that would drive economic benefits for African countrie

Mr Thabani Myeza, the Regional Director, Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) stressed the need for efficiency in the aviation system in Africa.

He noted that CANSO was deepening efforts to bridge the  gap of capacity deficit in the airports and ATC in the region.

`’We need to provide an enable environment for our experts where they can actually do the work,” he said.

Myeza expressed the optimism that the workshop and similar ones coming up in East Africa and Southern region would address the challenges

NAN reports that the event, facilitated by ICAO in cooperation with the International Air Transport Association, was attended by participants from across Africa. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Aviation

NCAA to sanction airlines over false flight schedules

278 total views today

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has said it would sanction airlines engaged in deceitful departure time scheduling.

The Acting Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo made the assertion in a statement by the Director, Public Affairs/Consumer Protection, Mr Michael Achimugu, on Tuesday.

The NCAA warned the airlines to desist from the infraction or face dire regulatory actions.

“The NCAA now runs a zero-tolerance approach to regulatory infractions.

“Ease of doing business is the crux of the D-G’s action plan for the NCAA. In line with that action plan, he has made processes for licensing easy for operators.

“The time to secure AOC is now shorter and less cumbersome than it used to be in the past. The NCAA therefore expects reciprocity from airlines. Chief of which is world-class services to passengers,” he

Najomo was quoted as saying that, if the NCAA was enabling a business friendly environment for operators, then the operators must satisfy the passengers with superior services.

“It has come to our notice that some airlines are being reported for advertising deceitful departure times. The NCAA regulation says no airline shall display deceitful passenger departure time at its counter, advert material or on its’ website.

“We want to make it very clear that the D-GCA has directed monitoring and offenders will face serious regulatory actions,” Najomo said.

He further stated that the Authority believes in safety, discipline, and economic regulation which is evident in the recent suspension of 10 Permits for Non Commercial Flights (PHCF) holders for failing to comply with the recertification advisory issued in April 2024.

Speaking on the ease of doing business environment at the NCAA, Najomo said the ease of business is an area the Authority would continue to improve.

“This is evident in our high score on the Presidential Enabling Business Council (PEBEC) ranking. Recently our sister agency scored 96 per cent but the NCAA scored 98.5 per cent which is an extremely high score.

“This is building from the commendable score of 71.04 per cent the NCAA scored during this year’s ICAO Security Audit.

“The numbers are improving and we will continue to do what we can to make the industry safer, and more secure for passengers and stakeholders,” he assured.

On the difficulty in refund processes by airlines, Najomo said all refunds by airlines must be done devoid of undue delays and the process should conclude in 14 working days regardless of the mode of purchase of the tickets.

On the suspension of PHCF licenses of 10 operators, he explained that they were advised since April 2024, to commence the process for recertification but they refused to comply this they left the Authority with no option than to sanction them.

Najomo also cleared the air on the misconceptions and misinformation in a recent publication alleging that the law surrounding the suspension of 10 PHCFs were not in vogue among other accusations.

Describing the allegations, which he believed to be done in ignorance or mischief as fluid and unfounded, Najomo explained the Authority’s actions using the Civil Aviation Act 2022.

He said that the action taken by NCAA was part of its mandate to ensure compliance with the civil aviation law establishing it and the attendant regulations.

In order to sanitize the sector, NCAA re-affirmed its stance to rid the industry of illegal charter operators who might have inspired the publication. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Aviation

Recertification: NCAA suspends 10 private jet operations

216 total views today

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has suspended ten private jet operations over failure to begin recertification process.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Michael Achimugu, Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection on Friday in Abuja.

The agency said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations 2023 Part 18.3.4 forbids holders of Permit for Non Commercial Flights (PNCF) from using their aircraft for carriage of passengers, cargo or mail for hire or rewards (commercial operation or charter services)

“As a result of flagrant disregard of this rule, the NCAA had earlier directed all holders of PNCF to undergo re-evaluation which should have been concluded by the April 19, 2024.

“To this end, the NCAA has suspended the PNCF of Azikel Dredging Nigeria Ltd, Bli-Aviation Safety Services, Ferry Aviation Developments Ltd and Matrix Energy Ltd.

”Also Marrietta Management Services Ltd, Worldwide Skypaths Services, Mattini Airline Services Ltd, Aero Lead Ltd, Sky Bird Air Ltd and Ezuma Jets Ltd.

“The public is hereby notified that it is illegal to engage PNCF holders for commercial purposes. The NCAA will not hesitate to initiate enforcement actions against any PNCF holder found guilty of illegal operations”.

The agency said that its officials had been deployed to General Aviation Terminals (GAT) and private wings of the airports to monitor activities of the PNCF holders. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Sadiya Hamza

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