Page 19 - LUA September - October 2023 Magzter

Nigeria, and according to Capt. Nuhu, this
“has encouraged many airlines to establish or
plan to establish operations in Nigeria.”
Furthermore, Capt. Nuhu said that the
operators are “moving away from poor
choice of aircraft, poor or bad route planning
and operating models,” and adopting newer
and narrow-body aircraft or single-aisle
aircraft as their immediate recovery and
survival strategy following the devastating
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While he cautioned Nigerian airlines
against the “wrong aircraft-type for flight
operations,” he encouraged “cooperative
behaviour and alliances among airlines
to tap into the huge opportunity in the
market, as exemplified by global airline
alliances like Oneworld, SkyTeam, and
Star Alliance. He, therefore, lauded the
initiative of about six Nigerian airlines that
signed the revolutionary ‘Spring Alliance’
in 2022 for mutual support and improved
service delivery to passengers.
“We urge airlines to partner with their
willing foreign counterparts through
code sharing in developing Nigeria's
aviation industry,” Capt. Nuhu added,
stressing the need to prevent Nigerian
carriers from becoming “ever more
fragmented and less competitive.”
PHOTO: Sm105 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/ Wikimedia Commons
He urged airlines to embrace
European nations, to enhance safety and Act 2022, Federal Airports Authority Act passenger-centric initiatives including
boost their confidence at airports across 2022, Nigerian Meteorological Act 2022, improved efficiency and on-time-
the country. Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Act performance (OTP). He also charged
In addition, the FAAN Training Centre 2022 and Nigerian College of Aviation the media to drive “developmental
was designated as the ICAO Aviation Technology Act 2022.” journalism that would positively influence
Security Training Centre of Excellence, while He urged all aviation stakeholders organizational and industry policies.”
the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology to comply with the reviewed NCAA Also, Professor Mansur Bako Matazu,
(NCAT) received the Regional Training Regulations (Nig. CARs 2023) which became the Director General/CEO of the
Centre of Excellence (RTCE). He also effective on 10th July, 2023. Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)
noted the transformation of the Accident The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative
Investigation Bureau (AIB) into the multi- of Aviation and Aerospace in Nigeria, at the World Meteorological
modal Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Dr. Emmanuel C. Meribole, said “I am Organisation, said the aviation
(NSIB) to investigate accidents and serious particularly confident that with the new Industry in Nigeria is one of the fastest
incidents in rail, maritime, and aviation. enabling Acts, the Agencies under the growing industries with a tremendous
Capt. Nuhu said that the challenges Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace should contribution to the nation’s GDP. He
facing the industry as well as the need be able to deliver without any form of said NiMet continues to invest in facility
to sustain the improvements in “safety, encumbrances.” upgrades and automation to promote the
security, technology, development He also said that, in recent years, the efficiency of its operations.
infrastructure, airline management and aviation industry in Nigeria “witnessed Eng. Akin Olateru, Director General/
operations among others,” have necessitated tremendous and tangible infrastructural CEO of the Nigerian Safety Investigation
the provision of “an effective legal and development” to ensure air safety within Bureau (NSIB), emphasised the need
institutional framework for a virile and Nigeria's airspace.” continually fill the gaps in the development
prosperous aviation in Nigeria.” of aviation professionals in Nigeria. “In the
And in 2022, the Nigerian Civil Aviation DOMESTIC AIRLINES dynamic landscape of aviation, it is essential
Act (CAA) 2022 was assented to by former STRATEGY that we stay ahead of the curve by identifying
President Muhammadu Buhari, in addition The challenges in road travel have led to the and addressing the gaps in our manpower
to the “Nigerian Airspace Management growing demand for aviation services in development,” Olateru stated.

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