
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has said one of his cardinal functions is to uphold the autonomy of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and not interfere politically with the agency’s core mandate of ensuring safety.
He set a 90-day deadline for FAAN to remove all unserviceable aircraft, clearing the way for expansion projects.
Comprehensive Airport Tour Highlights Urgent Needs
Furthermore, Keyamo made this known after an extensive and revealing tour of Murtala Muhammed Airport, including passenger terminals, airside, and perimeters.
Upholding NCAA’s Autonomy and Ensuring Safety
Additionally, responding to questions on autonomy, the Senior Advocate said he will not interfere politically but ensure NCAA enforces its rules strictly.
Moreover, Keyamo said, “With the new NCAA Act of 2022, there should be less political interference in safety matters; that’s NCAA’s responsibility.”
“So, I am not going to interfere with safety. One of my cardinal programs will be to ensure that NCAA enforces their rules and regulations to the hilt. That is my duty and I back off, but I will not interfere in matters of regulations”, he said.
90-Day Deadline for Removal of Unserviceable Aircraft
Speaking earlier, he said, “The aircraft currently parked at the graveyard should not remain there indefinitely, as they disrupt development plans. After the 90-day ultimatum expires, we will dispose of the aircraft as we see fit.”
Keyamo said, “The first thing we would say before you do that, we are here where they call the aeroplane graveyard. This location stores unserviceable planes that have been here for many years, as I have been informed.
” I also understand that several of them went to court and the case ended one way or the other. “So, I am directing the MD FAAN to remove all these totally unserviceable aircraft. Furthermore, it is imperative that these dead aircraft are promptly removed from Federal Government facilities within the specified timeline. Additionally, we want to expand the apron here.
Resolve
“So, all unserviceable aircraft must be taken away within three months.” Furthermore, we are giving owners of unserviceable aircraft three months, or we will do away with them ourselves. Ultimately, after three months, we might be at liberty to dispose of these aircraft because we want to expand our aprons.”
“So please I’ve told the MD FAAN, get in touch with all of those who have their unserviceable aircraft here. We want to expand this Apron.
“Within three months, they should remove their unserviceable aircraft, or we will dispose of them because it is our facility. Furthermore, these aircraft are hampering development, and we need them removed within three months to expand our apron.” He emphasized.