The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on Wednesday met with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo over the audit of the nation’s airports and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCCA) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
Keyamo said Nigeria no doubt recognises the role of ICAO which is aimed at constantly addressing and enhancing the global aviation safety through coordinated activities.
He was of the opinion that the accomplishment of the audit is a shared national responsibility and as such, has been the focus of the federal government.
The minister stressed that in its bid to ensure continuous compliance with ICAO Standards and to meet the challenges of a rapidly growing air transport sector, the federal government has continued to maintain and to reposition the industry for efficiency and the path of sustainable growth.
Keyamo said: “The mission you embarked upon to Nigeria is a very important one aimed at, not only promoting the global civil aviation safety through the monitoring of Contracting States’ safety oversight capabilities but improving their systems.
“It therefore gives me great honour that you are visiting Nigeria at this time when the nation just concluded a transition to a new government in the annals of our democracy.”
The minister stressed that Nigeria is fully aware that ensuring a safe, secure, efficient and environmentally-friendly civil aviation system, with modern and adequate infrastructure requires adequately funded autonomous NCAA and an Independent National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), together with well- established aviation service providers.
He noted that whilst Nigeria is not new to audits, no stone was left unturned in the preparation for this audit to ensure a significant rise in the effective implementation of all the safety functional areas.
Keyamo assured that safety remains Nigeria’s priority, non-negotiable, adding that it supersedes all other considerations for civil aviation.