[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has temporarily halted Omniblu Aviation’s certification process due to a Conflict of Interest, as revealed in a letter dated October 3, 2023, Ref: NCAA/DOLTS/LRO/OBA/VOL I/O3323.
Addressed to Omniblu’s managing director and accountable manager, the letter, titled “Outcome Of Phase Two(2),” cited concerns that the airline’s major financier also holds the position of Director General at the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).
In their meeting on September 29, 2023, the Phase Two (2) team noted that Mr. Akinola Olateru, with significant financial interests in OMNIBLU, leads the NSIB.
The letter references Corporate Affairs Commission Form, Form O-Ops002, Civil Aviation Act 2022, and Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau Act 2022, emphasizing Conflict of Interest regulations.
Check out NCAA’s Civil Aviation Act 2022 Highlights
As a result, the Authority has temporarily suspended the variation process and requested further clarification from Omniblu.
According to the Civil Aviation Act 2022, paragraph 19 outlines categories of government officials affected by Conflict of Interest, including the Minister of Aviation, Governing board members, DG, and Ministry of Aviation and Authority employees.
These individuals are prohibited from engaging in aviation enterprise management while in office, as per paragraph 19.
Paragraph 22 reinforces this prohibition, preventing them from influencing actions or decisions impacting their financial interests in aviation enterprises.