Aviation Roundtable slams NCAA over Abuja airport saga
The controversy over the proposed closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja for six weeks has prompted the foremost aviation industry think-tank, Aviation Roundtable (ART), to task the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to conduct an assessment of runways across the country.
The group blamed the NCAA for ‘not being alive to its responsibility’ of conducting safety oversight of the Abuja runway which it said had been due for maintenance 14 years ago.
President of ART, Elder Gabriel Olowo, in a position paper made available to newsmen in Lagos, said the decision to close the airport should have been taken by the NCAA, the industry regulator, and not the government.
He said constant political interference had stifled the effectiveness of NCAA which should have compelled the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to adhere with the stipulated maintenance programme for the Abuja runway.
The statement said, “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), which is responsible for conducting safety oversight of the sector, was docile and failed completely in ensuring that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) religiously complies with the Runway Maintenance Programme for NAIA, which is an operational safety requirement. The failure of FAAN to strictly follow the Runway Maintenance Programme and conduct regular repairs and rehabilitation of the runway coupled with the lethargic oversight of NCAA have effectively contributed in bringing the situation to where it is today.”
It said the closure of the Abuja runway would have serious safety, security and cost implications, explaining, “Local and international passengers will have to face the great inconvenience of travelling by road from Kaduna to Abuja amidst several security uncertainties. Airlines, service providers, employees and the national economy will all be negatively impacted by the closure.”
It added that in view of the pains the closure would cause, “we are concerned and sincerely hope that the project will be completed within the stipulated six weeks.”