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Tag: NCAA

  • Senate to probe purchase of bullet-proof cars

    Senate to probe purchase of bullet-proof cars

    The Senate Committee on Aviation on Tuesday said that it will carry out thorough investigation into the controversial N255million armoured cars purchased by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Hope Uzodinma, denied that the upper chamber was unduly delaying in ordering investigation into the alleged car scam.

    Uzodinma explained that the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah and heads of agencies under her ministry, did not appear before the Senate on Tuesday because his committee is yet to formally invite them.

    Speaking to reporters after plenary in Abuja, the lawmaker stated that the Senate had just approved the votes and proceedings of its sitting on October 8, where the Senate resolved to summon Oduah and other heads of aviation parastatals over frequent air mishaps in the country.

    Uzodinma said: “With the approval of the votes and proceedings of the last Senate session today (Tuesday), containing the summoning of the minister, our committee will now meet within the week to fix the date to invite the minister and other relevant aviation chiefs for questioning on the troubled sector.”

    On why the Senate has not commenced investigation into the N225million bullet proof cars allegedly bought by the NCAA for the use of the minister, Uzodinma said the Senate can only speak after thorough investigation.

    He said, “As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, I have read a lot on the alleged scandal in the media and I believe other members of the committee are also up to date on the raging issue.

    “However, we cannot jump into the fray of the controversy like that in the strength of media information alone without properly checking our records for facts and figures on whether the alleged vehicles bought were appropriated for or not by the agency that purchased them.

    “Our appeal to the general public for now is that they should exercise patience on the entire crisis bedevilling the aviation sector as the Senate and in particular, its committee on aviation will surely carry out thorough investigation to unravel all issues behind the whole crisis.”

     

  • Reps to probe Oduah’s N255m cars

    Reps to probe Oduah’s N255m cars

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated its committee on Aviation to commence an immediate probe into the purchase of two BMW armoured cars by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

    The decision to probe the $1.6 million car purchase was sequel to a motion brought under matters of urgent national importance by the Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie.

    The House, which has just returned from a three-week break, resolved to mandate the House committee on Aviation to investigate the matter and report back within one week with specific terms of reference that included the following:

    -To find out whether it was correct that the purchase was made and whether the purchase was authorized by any appropriation law. They committee will also determine if the NCAA has been complying with Fiscal Responsibilities Act on the remittance of its internally Generated Revenue.

    – The committee will also find out whether the minister is entitled to such vehicle under any law in Nigeria and whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and all anti- corruption agencies are not bound to investigate and prosecute all those involved if no appropriation law approved the purchase.

    – The committee is also to find out whether (even if any appropriation law approved it) the President can retain the services of the minister and all those involved in the matter.

     

     

  • NCAA, foreign firms to audit domestic airlines

    NCAA, foreign firms to audit domestic airlines

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) has said it will carry out joint audit of domestic carriers to ascertain their technical and financial state of health.

    Its Director General, Captain Fola Akinkuotu disclosed this yesterday at a briefing at the Aviation House, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos insisted that there was no going back on the audit which will be carried out in collaboration with foreign firms.

    Akinkuotu threatened to shut down airlines that are owing workers’ salaries.

    He said the NCAA will take further steps to raise the bar in safety by ensuring that all domestic operators undergo the International Operations Safety Audit (IOSA), usually conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

    He said the steps were being taken to restore the confidence of the flying public in the aviation sector, adding that it has become critical in the last few weeks on account of the Associated Aviation Embraer 120 crash in Lagos and other incidents.

    He said: ”We will continue to engage domestic operators to do what is right. They have a responsibility to comply with the rules and avoid lapses that will expose the industry to emergencies.

    “The NCAA demands that all operators must sit up. As the regulatory body, the NCAA has a role to ensure that there is continuous monitoring to enhance safety.”

    According to him, as a rule, the NCAA will stop any airline that is owing salaries as part of efforts to ensure safety.

    “The idea is not to deliberately reduce the number of airlines, but to ensure that only strong carriers are in operation,” the regulator said.

    He said contrary to insinuation, NCAA is not broke but affirmed that the authority places premium on training of its personnel.

    He said the incident involving IRS Airlines at the weekend was a safe landing.

    Also speaking, the chairman of IRS Airlines, Alhaji Rabiu Ishaku Rabiu said the NCAA does not allow operators to violate safety regulations.

    He said:” No operator goes against the rule to make profit by carrying out an unsafe operation at the expense of making profit.”

     

  • NCAA to carry out audit of domestic airlines

    NCAA to carry out audit of domestic airlines

    As part of measures to enhance air safety in the country, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority said on Monday that it will carry out joint audit of domestic carriers to ascertain their technical and financial state of health.

    The Director- General of NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, disclosed this during a briefing at the Aviation House, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He insisted that there is no going back on the audit, which will be carried out in collaboration with foreign firms.

    Akinkuotu revealed the NCAA will shut down airlines owing workers salaries, saying the authority will only find out such development if the matter is brought to its notice.

    He said the NCAA will take steps to raise the bar in safety by ensuring that all domestic operators undergo the International Operations Safety Audit (IOSA), conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

    He explained that steps were being taken to restore the confidence of the flying public, which has become critical in the last few weeks on account of the Associated Aviation Embraer 120 crash in Lagos and other incidents.

    He said,” We will continue to engage domestic operators to do what is right. They have a responsibility to comply with the rules and avoid lapses that will expose the industry to emergencies.

    The NCAA demands that all operators must sit up.

    As the regulatory body the NCAA has a role to ensure that there is continuous monitoring to enhance safety.

     

  • Anxious passengers besiege DANA Air counters for refunds

    It was a mild drama on Monday morning at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, as over hundreds of anxious passenger besieged the counters of DANA Airline to seek refunds of their air fares following the suspension of the airline’s operations by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    The passengers arrived the MMA 2, as early as 6.30am ostensibly not aware of the NCAA’s suspension of DANA flights on Sunday.

    The passengers got to the airport for the supposed 7.05am flight only to be informed by ground personnel of DANA Air that their operations have been suspended by government.

    Most of the passengers, who had purchased their tickets online, brandished the electronic tickets they printed out from different mobile devices.

    Other passengers had previously paid for their tickets before Monday.

    Some of the passengers apparently in a bid to meet up with their appointments, started putting pressure on the airline officials to facilitate the refund of their flight tickets to enable them get seats on other airlines going to their destinations.

    Some of these passengers take the early flight to Abuja on Mondays.

    There was display of emotions as some passengers took on the DANA Air personnel on ground, who pleaded with them to exercise patience, as their refunds were being worked out.

     

  • NCAA grounds Associated Aviation

    NCAA grounds Associated Aviation

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended all operations of Associated Aviation, the carrier which Embaer 120 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday killing 13 persons on board.The grounding of operations of the airline is to pave way for ongoing probe into the cause of the crash.

    Answering questions from journalists at the General Hospital Ikeja after paying a visit to injured passengers, the Director General of NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu announced the suspension of all operations of the airline.

    He said: “Associated airlines operations has been suspended by the NCAA. Let me say for the purpose of clarity, I said their operations, I mean all the operations of Associated airlines have been suspend by the NCAA. I did not say any certification was cancelled but all operations.”

    Akinkuotu said the aircraft was certified airworthy before the last flight adding that the continuous airworthiness certification of an airplane lies on the airline itself stressing that there was nothing contrary to the information provided by the airline.

    He said the insurance company handling the airline has provided documents about the state of its insurance.

    The NCAA boss said the organisation will continue to apply all rules on all airlines. Capt. Akinkuotu expressed satisfaction that the injured were responding positively to treatment and commended the management of the hospital for the state of the art equipment.

  • Three crew members survived crash – NCAA

    Three crew members survived crash – NCAA

    … Feyi  Agagu responding to treatment

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority said on Friday that three crew members of the ill-fated air craft that crashed in Lagos on Thursday were among the victims the survived the crash and are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals in the state.

    They are – two cabin crew members and a flight engineer.

    The Head of Aero Medical Directorate of the NCAA, Dr. Theresa Bassey, who made this disclosure, also said the son of the late Ondo State governor, Feyi is doing well at the hospital.

    According to her, Feyi has started talking with friends and family members.

    Speaking at the crisis centre opened for victims of the crash at the NCAA Annex at the Lagos Airport, Dr. Bassey, said one of the female survivors had a successful surgery and is responding to treatment.

    She said two survivors are in the intensive care unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) because of the intense burns and fracture.

    She said, “Seven of the survivors are doing well at the hospital. There are three crew members – two cabin crew members and a flight technician.

    “One of the crew members has undergone a surgery and she is doing well. Two other passengers that survived have been sent to the intensive care unit of LASUTH.

    “I can confirm to you that Feyi Agagu is alive and kicking. He is responding to treatment and has started talking to friends and family members.

    “The two survivors at the intensive care unit have severe burns and fracture. I cannot tell when they will be released, but they are doing well at the hospital.”

  • NCAA sues AON over foreign jets charges

    NCAA sues AON over foreign jets charges

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has dragged the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) to court for failing to pay its newly introduced charges.

    NCAA recently imposed $4000 (N640,000) take off fee for non-scheduled operation of foreign registered aircraft and $3000 (N480,000), for locally registered ones.

    NCAA criticised the operators’ refusal to pay the fees, saying such collections are enshrined in the regulations of the authority.

    In the summons instituted at the Federal High Court, Lagos, NCAA said it imposed the fees on the operators in line with its mandate as regulatory agency of the aviation industry.

    In the summons, NCAA argued that by the “true construction of Section 30 (2) (q) and 30 (5) of the Civil Aviation act of 2006, the plaintiff (NCAA) is empowered to impose fees on all foreign and Nigerian registered aircraft engaged in non-scheduled operation conveyed vide order of August 28, 2013.”

  • ‘Industry’s major challenge’

    Non-compliance with aviation rules by operators is a major challenge facing the industry, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, has said.

    He spoke in Lagos at the opening of a two-day seminar on Aviation Law and Regulation, organised for judges and other stakeholders, in collaboration with Socio Economic Rights Initiative, a civil society organisation.

    He said the sector does not suffer from a dearth of laws and regulations to check operators but that players were reluctant to comply with prescribed standards and practices, adding that the NCAA would ensure compliance to standards and recommended practises of the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO).

    He said the essence of the event was to educate participants on the intricacies of industry practices, saying once issues are brought to them, they would have fuller understanding of how to handle them without violating the internationally set standards.

    Akinkuotu said the seminar would provide the result to propel the sector, noting that industry as an international business without domestic standards, requires standard legal framework to function properly.

  • NCAA reads riot act to hajj operators

    The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) has read the riot act to operators designated for the air lifting of Muslim pilgrims for this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

    The Director-General, Captain Folayeke Akinkuotu warned the airlines to abide by the regulations, adding that failure to do so could lead to sanctions.

    Capt Akinkuotu warned stakeholders against disregard of the law on Hajj and that of the industry, saying that the NCAA would not hesitate to ground any defaulter.

    He said: ”Safety and security is key. NCAA will not accept any short coming in terms of operational deficiency. The equipment and crew must be airworthy at all times and passengers be treated with dignity.”

    Capt. Akinkuotu charged the National Hajj Commission and airline operators on the Hajj to ensure proper planning and orderliness.

    Last month, NCAA said it was not ground any domestic airline. The director-general said NCAA would want airlines to remain afloat, noting that they should obey industry regulations.

    He said as a regulator, he would access airlines from the point of view of adherence to the industry laws.

    He also said the authority would provide the enabling environment for airlines to operate and succeed, adding that the way to go is to accept compliance with the law.