FOLLOWING numerous successful audits of the aviation industry, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has expressed it’s readiness to once again surmount the latest International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO) safety audit and has called for all hands on deck to make this happen.
Director General of the NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu who made this known while declaring open the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) Training at NCAT, Zaria explained the sensitive nature of the audit and called on the media particularly to eschew sensationalism in their reportage.
He called for clarification and balancing at all times.
“We want to inform Nigerians that preparations for international civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) slated for the first quarter of 2022 are in top gear and that we are fully prepared for the impending audits.
“On the heels of proactiveness, existing regime of robust regulations and over eight year of zero accident in commercial flight operation, we are primed to excel again.
“Therefore, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) appeals to all stakeholders including the media to join hands with us to ensure a successful audit next year.
“From now on, all your reports are very sensitive. Let us eschew sensationalism capable of putting the nation in bad light. Therefore, I will advise anyone to endeavour to verify and confirm his/her stories before publishing, if in doubt. It is my view that your watchdog role plays a very important part in fostering stability in the industry.
“These balancing, developmental and promotional stories are the hallmark of a burgeoning aviation industry like ours. Let us present our aviation industry as the most improved that it is.
“There is no doubt that there is increased confidence in the sector as new airlines are coming in and existing operators are expanding their routes. Expectedly, our coast of surveillance programme and other oversight responsibilities as the regulator of the industry have increased correspondingly,” he said.