Some stakeholders in the aviation industry have faulted the minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for undue interference in the activities of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
In a chat with our correspondent, the stakeholders accused Mr Keyamo of micromanaging the agency and taking away its autonomous status.
The stakeholders, who prefered not be named to avoid victimisation, stated this while reacting to the directive of the minister asking the NCAA to suspend the operational certificate of Dana Air.
According to a letter dated April 24 and signed by the permanent secretary, Emmanuel Meribole, Mr Keyamo directed the director general of the NCAA to suspend Dana Air following the runway incident of its aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday.
“As the supervisor overseeing our nation’s aviation safety and regulatory compliance, it has come to the Honourable Minister’s attention that recent incidents involving DANA AIRLINE have raised serious concerns regarding both the safety and financial viability of their operations.
“In light of these incidents and with the paramount priority being the safety and well-being of our citizens and travellers, the Honourable Minister has directed that you immediately initiate the suspension of Dana Airline’s fleet until a comprehensive audit can be conducted.
“This audit should encompass all aspects of safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and financial health to ensure full compliance with our aviation regulations.
“The recent incidents have underscored the urgency of this matter, and it is imperative that swift and decisive action be taken to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders involved.
“I trust in your expertise and diligence in carrying out this audit thoroughly and expeditiously. Please keep me informed of the progress and any significant findings throughout this process,” the letter reads.
In compliance with the minister’s order, the NCAA, through a letter addressed to the accountable manager of Dana Air, imposed an indefinite suspension on the operation of the airline.
The letter, which was signed by the acting director general of civil aviation, Chris Najomo, said the suspension will remain in place while awaiting a report from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau,NSIB.
Mr Najomo also disclosed that the decision was a result of an in-house compliance assessment initiated by the NCAA to probe the recent and previous occurrences involving DANA Air aircraft.
“Subsequent to the runway excursion involving your MD-82 aircraft with registration marks 5N-BKI at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on 23rd April, 2024, the Authority is awaiting the preliminary report of the investigation launched by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
“While the NSIB is conducting the safety investigation, the NCAA has initiated an in- house compliance assessment of this occurrence, taking into account previous occurrences involving DANA Air aircraft. This is in a bid to establish any trend which must be nipped in the bud in the interest of the safety and well-being of our citizens and travellers.
“Furthermore, the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, in sharing the concerns of the authority has thrown his weight behind the need for swift measures to be taken to address pertinent safety and economic issues that may underpin some of these occurrences.
“As a precautionary step, and in accordance with Sec 31 (7) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022, the Authority has imposed a suspension on your Air Operator Certificate (AOC) with effect from 24th April, 2024, at 23:59 to allow for a thorough safety and economic audit. The safety audit will entail a re-inspection of your organisation, procedures, personnel, and aircraft as specified by Part 1.3.3.3 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, while the economic audit will critically examine the financial health of your airline to guarantee its capability to sustain safe flight operations,” he said.
But the aviation stakeholders said the grounding or suspension of any erring operator is the responsibility of the regulator, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.
“It is supposed to be an autonomous agency protected from political interference. This is against the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s, ICAO, Standards and Recommended Practices, SARPs, that are the foundation of global civil aviation regulations”, they said.
They argued that “Mr Keyamo, who is a non-aviation technocrat without any knowledge, background, or experience in civil aviation matters, is micro-managing NCAA and thus taking away its autonomous status as per the Civil Aviation Act Amendment of 2023.
“Section 31(7) relied on by the Ag. DG does not apply here, as there was no emergency requiring immediate action. NCAA did not form the opinion that there was any emergency.
“Indeed, NCAA issued a statement yesterday that it would await the result of NSIB’s investigation and comply with any recommendation.
“Then the Minister, who has no power to do so, directed the Ag. DG to suspend Dana’s operation, and he promptly complied. He even mentioned the minister’s directive in his letter to Dana! It shows that the NCAA under him is not autonomous,” they lamented.
When contacted, Mr Keyamo didn’t respond to a WhatsApp message sent to him at the time of filing this report.
