Because the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) celebrates its silver jubilee, stakeholders have emphasised the necessity for the regulatory physique to adapt to new technological improvements and imbibe routine capability constructing of staffers to deepen effectivity.
The stakeholders, who spoke at an anniversary symposium organised by the NCAA in Abuja, acknowledged the authority’s accomplishments in constructing a vibrant, economically viable, internationally aggressive, and globally related aviation trade regardless of daunting challenges.
In his keynote deal with, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Improvement, Festus Keyamo, recommended the NCAA for its achievements over the past two and a half many years.
He emphasised the significance of sustaining aviation security, attributing it to the trade’s progress and growth. Whereas noting that aviation security shouldn’t be a one-time achievement however a steady technique of adaptation and enchancment, the minister identified that with developments in know-how, rising passenger calls for, and rising globalisation, the dynamics of aviation security are evolving quickly.
Therefore, there’s a want to deal with these modifications and be sure that Nigeria stays on the forefront of world aviation security requirements. He additional famous that the NCAA’s Silver Jubilee celebration goals to focus on the significance of aviation security as the muse for the trade’s progress and growth.
Equally, the Director-Common of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo, mentioned that because the authority celebrates its present achievements, “we should additionally look forward to embracing new applied sciences, bettering operational efficiencies, and fostering partnerships that can elevate our aviation trade to even higher heights.”
He emphasised that the authority is guided by the 5-Level Agenda of the minister and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, each of which emphasise infrastructure growth, security enhancement, financial progress, and job creation.
“As we chart the course over the subsequent 25 years and past, allow us to reaffirm our resolve to uphold the best requirements of security, effectivity, and world finest practices,” he added.
To boost the financial regulatory capabilities of the NCAA, the DGCA introduced {that a} workforce of ICAO trainers had been invited to coach NCAA workers on efficient financial rules.
Since its institution, the NCAA has drastically decreased aviation-related incidents by imposing strict compliance measures. Airways working inside Nigeria now endure rigorous security audits, whereas pilots and crew should meet stringent licensing necessities.
The NCAA’s oversight has additionally helped entice worldwide airways, boosting Nigeria’s financial system and world aviation footprint. To maintain this momentum, the Managing Director of Finchglow Travels, Ezekiel Ikotun, emphasised that adopting new know-how reshapes the aviation trade by navigating complicated challenges whereas unlocking new alternatives.
He predicted Nigeria’s aviation sector would proceed to develop, given the provision of innovation, resilience, and forward-thinking management. Whereas talking on capability growth within the aviation trade, the keynote speaker and former Rector on the Nigerian Faculty of Aviation Know-how (NCAT), Samuel Caulcrick, expressed admiration for Nigeria’s first technology of aviators. He famous that they got here from various backgrounds, overcame monetary limitations, and have been chosen on advantage to endure coaching and change into aviators. He mentioned these aviators have risen within the occupation, setting distinctive requirements and changing into world-class aviators domestically and globally.
Nevertheless, he lamented that the state of affairs is completely different at this time. He attributed the shift to the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) adopted by Nigeria within the mid-Nineteen Eighties, which reshaped funding for human capital growth within the aviation sector.
“As soon as supported by taxpayer funding, the expansion of our trade and the coaching of aspiring aviators have since confronted dire constraints. Many households battle with monetary hurdles that hinder their youngsters’s aspirations of changing into aviators. This has led to a diminished recruitment pool for future expertise in civil aviation throughout Nigeria,” he famous.
He additional said that this example is troubling, because it restricts the nation’s potential to nurture distinctive aviators, who may elevate the trade. “We could have been overlooking people blessed with expertise, ardour, and ambition but held again by monetary limitations. Many will agree, as I do, that this can be a disservice to our nation, stifling our capability to construct an unrivalled elite workforce in aviation.” He urged the federal government to subsidise civil aviation coaching to deal with this problem, much like the apply in lots of different international locations.
