The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ICAO

  • Mark seeks professionalism in aviation sector

    Mark seeks professionalism in aviation sector

    Senate President, David Mark, on Friday lamented the incessant mishaps in the aviation sector.

     

    Mark spoke when the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, visited him in company of the newly elected President of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliyu.

    He urged the minister and other stakeholders in the aviation sector to rise up to the challenges in the industry and to ensure that the international standard of operation is complied with.

    He noted the challenges facing the Nigerian Aviation sector but pointed out that they are surmountable.

    He added that professionalism must be brought to bear in order to address the turbulence in the sector and make the industry safe and secured.

    Mark said in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja said: “Aviation industry in Nigeria must meet international standard. You cannot lead such a global body if your own house is not good enough. The current turbulence in the aviation industry should not be a permanent feature. It should be resolved as quickly as possible so that we can guarantee safety in the industry.

    “In other climes, they also have challenges, mechanical or otherwise, but they have the capability and capacity to resolve them quickly. This is how it should be and not waiting for months or years to resolve them.”

    He specifically charged Aliyu to demonstrate leadership and represent Nigeria creditably because whatever “you do positively or negatively would ultimately affect the nation.”

     

     

  • Nigerian elected ICAO President

    A Nigerian, Dr Olumuyiwa Babatunde Aliu has been elected President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the umbrella world body for Aviation safety.

    He is the first Blackman to head the world body.

    He was elected Monday at the 38th Assembly of the organisation in Montreal, Canada by an assembly consisting of 172 countries.

    Aliu received full support from the Federal Government and Nigerians both at home and in Diaspora as the Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah led the Nigerian delegation to drum support for the accomplished Aliu who has built invaluable goodwill among ICAO member countries’ representatives.

  • Nigeria re-elected member of ICAO’s Council

    Nigeria has been re-elected to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council. Nigeria won with 149 out of 172 votes cast, representing 86 per cent of the total votes cast at the 38th Assembly of the organisation in Montreal, Canada.

    The majority vote garnered by Nigeria according to the General Manager,Corporate Communication, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Dati, is indicative of how highly Nigeria is regarded in the commity of world air transport sector.

    He said it is such high regard that will provide a strong platform for the election of the Nigerian representative in ICAO, Dr Olumuyiwa Babatunde Aliu who will be standing for election for the President of ICAO Council on October 28.

    Nigeria’s presence, Dati said, was strongly felt as the Federal Government sent a delegation led by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

    Aliu’s quest received full support from the Federal Government and Nigerians, both at home and in Diaspora as the Ms Oduah has continued to support Aliu who has built invaluable goodwill among ICAO member countries’ representatives.

    Princess Oduah last Thursday addressed the Assembly, reinforcing the commitment of the Nigerian government to meet all ICAO standards and requirements in safety, security, aerodrome facility and regulation, giving details of how far Nigeria has gone in actualising some of these objectives, including the efforts in infrastructural renewal at the nation’s airports.

    She assured that all the goals set out would be accomplished in the nation’s aviation sector within the framework of the transformation agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    The media coordinator of the aviation agencies and the General Manager, Corporate Communication of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Yakubu Dati, observed that the massive support for Nigeria as membership of ICAO Council by the international aviation community is an acknowledgement of the tremendous efforts the present administration is making to improve the sector.

    “Nigeria’s election also confirms therecognition of the increasing strength of Nigerian aviation industry and the m inister’s campaign for his election as President of ICAO Council showed that our country is making significant progress to take its rightful position as West African hub,” Dati said.

    The Minister also paid a courtesy call on the out-going President of the Council in his office as part of the strategy to secure his continuous support for Nigeria and also hosted several bilateral meetings with delegates of United States, the European Union and several others.

    Accompanied by Director Generals and CEOs of Nigerian aviation parastatals, the Minister garnered support and pledges from many countries and regional groups, as well as international aviation stakeholders, such as Airport Council International (ACI), International Air Transport Association (IATA).

    There was also a robust exchange of ideas on initiatives and programmes for the development of the aviation industry in Nigeria.

    Dati said the campaign for Aliu to become the President of ICAO Council will be sustained until the election scheduled forOctober 28, 2013.

    The 36 members of the ICAO Council would constitute the Electoral College for the election of the President of the Council.

    “So far, based on the responses from member states, we are optimistic that Dr. Aliu will ultimately emerge as the next President of ICAO Council, but we are not relenting on our efforts,” said Oduah.

    Nigeria joined ICAO in 1960 and was elected into the Council of ICAO in 1962 as a Part II member State and the country has since remained on the Council and has continued to promote the interest of Nigeria and Africa on the Council as well as contribute to the sustainable development and growth of civil aviation in the region.

    Dati remarked that the ultimate election of Dr. Aliu as President of ICAO Council will be historic.

    “Nigeria will be the first African country to produce the President of ICAO Council. Through this position, Nigeria can exert influence in international aviation community for the benefit of the country’s aviation industry and the national economy.”

     

  • Icao okays Nigeria’s airspace

    Icao okays Nigeria’s airspace

    The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has listed Nigeria as one of African 14 countries that has achieved effective air safety implementation, scoring above the global average of 61 per cent.

    This rating is contained in this year’s ICAO Safety Report, compiled by organisation’s auditors who investigated the compliance with stipulated International safety standards by individual countries across the world.

    ICAO , the global aviation regulator, consists of 200 countries.

    The Coordinating spokesman of aviation parastatals, Yakubu Dati, said the ICAO 2013 Safety Report lends credence to the Category One certification granted Nigeria in 2011 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States, for meeting stipulated international standards and practices on safety and security.

    Dati explained that it signals the success of the Aviation Master Plan developed by the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah.

    He said: “The vision is to make Nigerian aviation sector a world-class provider of safe, secure and comfortable air transport sector that is self sustaining and pivotal to socio-economic growth.”

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is sending 96 staff for training is part of on-going efforts to beef up capacity and manpower requirement preparatory to the imminent take-off of the Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) automation in November,

    NAMA’s Managing Director, Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, said they will be trained in Basic Aeronautical Information Course at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology ( NCAT), Zaria, adding that for effective deployment of logistics, the group shall run the course concurrently in four batches.

    Udoh enjoined them to justify the agency’s huge investment in their training by taking their studies seriously.

    ICAO has set November 15th 2013 as deadline for the implementation of AIS automation worldwide and the project have reached advanced stage of completion.

    AIS automation when in operation, would enhance air safety with pilots sending their aeronautical messages on-line and this would reduce excessive telephone conversation between pilots and air traffic controllers.

    Also, in line with the Special Scholarship Programme for youths in Niger Delta, the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lufthansa to train its pilots.

    According to the agreement, some of the pilots who underwent training in South Africa, would be embarking on a14-month training in Germany later this year.

    The agreement was signed in Abuja yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman Presidential Amnesty Committee, Kingsley Kuku and the Managing Director of Lufthansa Pilot Training Network, Captain Holger Hoffman.

    Kuku explained that the programme is approved by President Goodluck Jonathan to train youths who have interest in aviation.

    According to him, “We went into the agreement to develop the aviation industry. It is not enough to train private pilots, it is better to train those that will in turn develop our economy. It is a great window for young men and women who will want to be aviators to harness.

    “Twenty pilots from the Niger Delta will be embarking on the first batch of the 14 months training. We are happy that Lufthansa agreed to train them because in the aviation team worldwide, Lufthansa is rated one of the best. We are amazed that they opened their door to us.

    “The pilots have passed all requisite exams and texts and have secured their Private Pilot License (PPL) and Commercial Pilot License (CPL) from the Afrika Union Aviation Academy, Mafikeng and Flight Training School, Midrand, South Africa.

  • Nigeria, 13 others on aviation safety list

    Nigeria, 13 others on aviation safety list

    The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has listed Nigeria as one of the 14 countries in Africa that have achieved effective air safety implementation.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Dati said in the statement that the achievement was in line with air safety implementation above the global average of 61 per cent.

    According to him, the rating is contained in the ICAO 2013 Safety Report, compiled by the organisation’s auditors.

    “The auditors investigated the compliance with stipulated International safety standards by individual countries across the world, especially its 200-member countries,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the FAAN spokesman as saying in the statement.

     

     

  • NIMET set to commercialise operations

    NIMET set to commercialise operations

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) will soon commercialise its services to generate revenue for its operations, the Director-General, Dr Anthony Anuforom, has said.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Abuja, Anuforom said NIMET’s attainment of the International Standard Organisation (ISO) 9001 certification would enable it to offer quality services as a world-class organisation.

    He said this feat has prepared the ground for the agency to pursue the commercialisation of its services.

    Anuforom said: “Getting the ISO 9001 certification is paving the way towards the commercialisation of our services.

    “You cannot commercialise something that does not have quality. In other words, the quality of our services is now very well assured. The benefits of the ISO 9001 are enormous for this country. Nigeria is a destination because the air traffic will increase and the airspace will be busy. That is an opportunity for us. We must be prepared and live up to the challenges of providing sufficient safety services.”

    The NIMET chief said the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) prescribe that all aeronautical service providers in the aviation and related fields should attain the international quality management audit to achieve the ISO certification.

    He explained that without acquiring the ISO 9001, foreign airlines would not be obliged to obtain or use the agency’s weather forecast.

     

     

     

  • ICAO, UNWTO to co-operate on aviation

    The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and UNWTO have signed a special joint statement on aviation and tourism, acknowledging the intention of the two UN agencies to begin cooperating more closely on issues of common priority.

    The statement was signed by ICAO Secretary General, Raymond Benjamin, and UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, on the occasion of the official opening of the ICAO Sixth Worldwide Air Transport Conference (ATConf/6).

    Visa facilitation, taxation, the modernization of aviation regulations and the development of convergent rules for traveller and enterprise protection were stressed in the statement as key areas for improved collaboration.

    “Separate sectorial policies on air transport and tourism result in a fundamental, and too often even conflicting disconnect which constitutes a severe constraint on the development of travel and tourism.

    “The signing of this statement, therefore, represents a defining moment – one which can set air transport and tourism on a common path on matters of shared concern with considerable mutual benefit,”Mr Rifai said.

    More than one billion tourists crossed international borders during 2012, over half of who travelled by air to their destinations. The total number of international tourists, which includes both business and leisure travellers, is expected to reach 1.8 billion by 2030.

    “Based on ICAO’s latest forecasts, aircraft departures are forecast to grow from 30 million to 60 million by 2030,” noted ICAO’s Benjamin.

    “These figures support the UNWTO’s tourism projections and highlight how important it is that our organizations continue to address air transport system capacity and related challenges today, in order to maximize the economic development aspects of air transport and tourism tomorrow,”Benjamin said.

    Additional areas outlined for future cooperation by ICAO and the UNWTO included air passenger flow management at airports, air capacity for least developed countries and the continued reduction of environmental impacts resulting from international air travel and tourism. Due consideration will be maintained on the importance of air transport to tourism development in long-haul destinations and landlocked or island states.

    Benjamin and Rifai concluded their ceremony by jointly highlighting the considerable contributions of aviation and tourism to raise employment, fuel economic growth and social development.

    Together, their organizations will now be focusing on addressing existing obstacles to aviation and tourism growth as to ensure both sectors continue to contribute in a sustainable manner to global prosperity.