The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has clarified that america didn’t delist Nigerian airways on account of security issues.
The NCAA made this identified on Monday night time in an announcement signed by the Appearing Director Common of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo.
“The eye of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has as soon as once more been drawn to a publication in regards to the purported ban on Nigerian airways by america,” Najomo said.
“Because of the incorrect impression such information might create, it has turn out to be expedient that we put this report in its correct perspective.
“To function into america of America, Nigeria, like most international locations, should satisfactorily move the Worldwide Aviation Security Evaluation (IASA) Programme and attain Class 1 standing.
“Upon attaining this standing, Nigerian airways could be permitted to function Nigerian-registered plane and dry-leased foreign-registered plane into america, consistent with the present Bilateral Air Companies Settlement (BASA).
“The primary time Nigeria attained Class One Standing was in August 2010. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) performed one other security evaluation on Nigeria in 2014. An additional security evaluation was performed on Nigeria in 2017, after which Nigeria retained her Class One standing.”
Najomo defined that, with impact from September 2022, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) delisted Class One international locations who, after a 2-year interval, had no indigenous operator offering service to the U.S. or carrying the airline code of a U.S. operator.
He added that international locations the FAA was not offering technical help to, primarily based on recognized areas of non-compliance with worldwide requirements for security oversight, have been additionally faraway from the Class One record.
He clarified that no Nigerian operator has offered service into america utilizing a Nigerian-registered plane throughout the two-year interval previous September 2022, so it was anticipated that Nigeria could be delisted, as have been different international locations who fell inside this class.
Najomo said that Nigeria was, due to this fact, delisted in 2022 and was duly knowledgeable of this motion that very same 12 months.
“You will need to make clear right here that the delisting of Nigeria has completely nothing to do with any security or safety deficiency in our oversight system,” he stated.
“Nigeria has undergone complete ICAO Security and Safety Audits and recorded no Vital Security Concern (SSC) or Vital Safety Concern (SSeC) respectively.
“It’s moreover obligatory so as to add {that a} Nigerian operator can nonetheless function into the U.S. utilizing an plane wet-leased from a rustic that has a present Class One standing.”
Najomo stated that the NCAA continues to stick strictly to worldwide security and safety requirements and respects the sovereignty of States, together with america of America, as enshrined in Article One of many Conference on Worldwide Civil Aviation.
In line with the NCAA director, this provision provides states full and unique sovereignty over the airspace above their territories.
Moreover, he famous that this example has prompted the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Growth, Festus Keyamo (SAN), to embark on an aggressive worldwide marketing campaign to empower native operators to entry the dry-lease market around the globe. This effort culminated in a go to to AIRBUS in France earlier this 12 months and the MOU signed with BOEING in Seattle, Washington simply final week.
“The minister has additionally carried out numerous work to make Nigeria comply absolutely with the Cape City Conference, which can deliver again the boldness of worldwide lessors within the Nigerian aviation market,” Najomo said.
“We’re assured that with these steps by the minister, it’s only a matter of time earlier than Nigeria not solely regains however can maintain its U.S. Class One standing.”
