4th from right: Capt. Chris Najomo, acting DG, NCAA, Olusegun Koiki, Chairman, League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents, flanked by directors in NCAA after the presentation of ‘project 2024’ by Najomo in Lagos on Friday
…vows to simplify licencing, intensify surveillance
…as Authority mplements ‘no pay, no service’ regime for airlines
By Sade Williams
Acting Director general, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, on Friday in Lagos, unveiled his agenda for the authority, saying the journey to transform the sector has just begun.
Tagged ‘NCAA project 2024’, Najomo itemises prompt and simplified licencing/certification, enhanced surveillance, consumer protection, staff welfare, among others, as those areas that would be given utmost attention.
He also listed digital transformation; intensified revenue drive; Universal Safety Audit and ISO 9001certification as part of his agenda for the year.
While making his presentation, Najomo also urged debtor airlines to pay up their debts or risk being denied services henceforth.
While also giving the option to schedule the payment, he said the Authority has adopted ‘no pay, no service’ policy as airlines will no longer get services not paid for.
He said a large chunk of the money (50 percent) now goes straight to government coffers, adding that as cost recovery agency, it will no longer condole heavy debts from airlines.
“We are intensifying our cost recovery drive, the federal government now take 50% of the money, most of the airlines are owing us, we have told them to pay up. A debt recovery Joint Task force shall be mandated to implement the cost recovery drive.All debtors to NCAA shall cease to receive services from the Authority, there shall be operation no pay, no service and there will be strict sanctions for defaulting operators.”, he said.
Capt. Chris Najomo, acting DG, NCAA
Speaking on consumer protection, the NCAA boss disclosed that all there are consumer protection officers monitoring airlines operations at all Nigeria’s airports, adding that some delays and cancellations are not the fault of the airlines but when it’s their faults, they will be made to pay according to the regulations.
He hinted at putting up a portal where passengers can log their complaints for prompt attention and resolution.
“Enforcing airlines’ compliance with the Nig. Cars 2023 Part 19 (Consumer Protection Regulations) is priority. We will ensure that airlines provide timely care to passengers for service disruptions, we will ensure that consumers receive quality service In the Nigerian aviation industry and that their rights are aways protected.”, he said..
Najomo stated that the NCAA is committed to implementing a simplified certification/licensing system to streamline the approval process.
According to him, this will be extended to other authorizations, approvals and permits.
“This is a derivative of the Ease-of-doing-business philosophy towards encouraging growth of the Aviation industry.”
On plans to enhance surveillance, he said the NCAA aims to implement a robust risk-based surveillance system intended to close any potential gap opened by the increased validity period of Air Operators’ Certificates for unscheduled and scheduled operators.
The surveillance which encompasses safety, security and economic monitoring , he said, will be extended to all service providers.
Speaking on ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA), Najomo said,’ ‘In the aftermath of the ICAO USOAP-CMA Audit of Nigeria’s civil aviation system, we will implement realistic corrective action plans that not only close the audit findings, but improve our aviation system.
“This means our focus is beyond just passing audits. We must enhance our safety oversight capabilities. Once Nigeria address the root causes arising from the findings, we automatically improve our Effective Implementation (EI) rating.
He added that the NCAA is collaborating with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other relevant stakeholders in a bid to ensure ‘we have an excellent show during the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme – slated 11 to 22 March, 2024.’
“The USAP audit must be seen as a priority by this Management. We will endeavour to address all deficient areas squarely to assure the health of our aviation security oversight system is sound in the long-term, well beyond the audit.’
On NCAA ISO 9001 Certification, he disclosed that achieving the certification would demonstrate NCAA’s commitment to providing a high level of service apartt from improving aviation stakeholders’ satisfaction and meeting all statutory and regulatory requirements while it would highlight NCAA’s robust quality management system.
On Information and Communication Technology (ICT) digital transformation, the NCAA boss said the Authority has embarked on a digitalization journey with EMPIC with a view to implementing several modules of the system.
“EMPIC-EAP provides software solutions for Civil Aviation Authorities and organizations.These modules include Personnel Licensing (PEL), Medical (MED),Type Certificate, Aircraft Register, Organisation Approval and Surveillance.”, he added.
