Trade watchers, specialists and passengers obtained the shocker just lately when the Appearing Director Basic of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Chris Najomo disclosed how he shared authorities cash to workers to be able to enhance their welfare, boasting that the cash shared belongs to no one however the federal authorities, therefore he fears no evil. This was revealed in a viral video.
He went additional to hail the minister whom he stated God was utilizing to do lots for NCAA.
In one other stunning remark, the NCAA appearing boss additionally introduced that over 5,225 flights had been delayed, and 190 had been cancelled in 2024. No particulars on sanctions or punishments for erring airways.
In a BusnessDay report, he stated, “Sufficient compensation is offered the place relevant. Non-compliance with these rules is not going to be tolerated, and going ahead, the NCAA is not going to hesitate to impose the required penalties the place violations are noticed. I’ve instructed my workforce to watch and implement compliance and apply sanctions.”
Apprehension over way forward for aviation
Presently, there are considerations by main business gamers and passengers over the way forward for aviation sector going by the dealing with of rules.
Firstly, the Appearing DG has grow to be chronically patronizing in his effort to repeatedly acquire the assist of the workers on the detriment of aviation security. His claims that monies are being shared to workers who always get alert as a result of they belong to the federal authorities is an aberration and speaks quantity about administrative insensitivity. It’s not completely fallacious to prioritize workers welfare in step with civil service guidelines, however it quantities to recklessness if you prioritize identical on the expense of aviation security.
Sadly, all through his speech the place he always hammered on his intention to proceed in workplace, he didn’t point out any airline that was sanctioned over delayed or cancelled flights. The Appearing DG, confirmed no mercy to stranded passengers whose flights had been both delayed or cancelled when he stated going ahead, erring airways can be sanctioned. So what occurred prior to now one 12 months? What number of airways had been sanctioned or queried within the interval beneath assessment? This can be a full lack of incompetence and the unhappy actuality of the regulatory company.
It’s sadly disturbing to tag incompetence as successful story and will we proceed on this trajectory, the aviation sector will face grave setback. What then is the job of the regulator when 190 flights had been cancelled in a single 12 months and 5,225 had been delayed but no query was requested? This unlucky collaboration between the airways and the regulator portends severe hazard and have to be stopped now.
It’s sadly changing into clearer that as a substitute of partaking within the job of regulation, the ambiance within the NCAA is that of joke, merriment, speech making, marketing campaign and sharing of cash to workers to realize assist for continuation and affirmation of the Appearing DG. What distinction does it make if workers smile, eat fats and make merry however passengers lament delayed and cancelled flights? It exhibits a close to absence of rules.
One of many underlined points is the understanding of the DG that passengers whose flights had been cancelled or delayed needs to be ignored. No Nigerian passenger prior to now one 12 months can affirm being compensated for a delayed or cancelled flights. We’ve got had circumstances of passengers sleeping within the airport for days over flight delay. NCAA can’t level at a single passenger who had benefited when it comes to compensation both by the airline or by the regulatory physique. This isn’t solely unhappy, however able to bringing to disrepute the renewed confidence in aviation.
When workers get compensated for permitting airways to function with out regulation, when the eye is shifted from regulation to celebration, when the regulator turns into the collaborator, then hazard looms.
Findings have revealed that greater than 5,000 flights had been canceled in September and October 2024 alone, but workers and airline house owners have continued to put in writing to the President to verify him. This appears extra like a scenario irony.
Many consider that the alleged manipulation by the Minister who had been insisting on the affirmation of the DG for the following 5 years has torn the business aside. No marvel the then DG, Capt Musa Nuhu with none severe investigation for a 12 months now.
The NSIB report indicting NCAA indicated that the deadly helicopter crash, which resulted within the deaths of 8 people, together with 6 NNPC staff was on account of NCAA permission to the helicopter to function and not using a legitimate FDR, autopilot, life raft, and different important gear.
It’s also not information that the current Bell Police helicopter crash was on account of the NCAA’s insufficient supervision and the presence of unqualified pilots.
Sadly, the current a number of aviation incidents, together with two plane engine failures and a cargo plane overshooting the runway inside a span of 5 days name for severe concern.
These alarming developments ought to ordinarily reawaken the Minister of Aviation to be able to take motion in opposition to Captain Chris Najomo, who occurred to be his Uncle from the identical village. The protection of the aviation business is way extra vital than any relationship or tie.
This present disregard for security considerations has raised worldwide scrutiny on Nigeria’s administration of its airspace. The nation has misplaced its FAA Class One Certificates, prohibiting Nigerian airways, together with Airpeace, from working passenger flights to the USA. The considerations of many is the Minister’s inaction or reluctance to intervene and prioritize the security of residents.
The present management incompetence in NCAA has continued to re-echo and have to be addressed now earlier than it’s too late, else we are going to return to the period of Sosoliso and people darkish years within the sector.
Politicising NCAA on the expense of professionalism will take us 100 steps backwards.
Watch video right here…
Femi Johnson, an aviator writes from Canada.
