IKEJA – The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja would soon be certified by the authority.
The authority’s Director General, Capt. Muhktar Usman, said this during a media chat with aviation correspondents in Lagos.
Usman pointed out that safety and security audits at the two International airports were in advance stages, adding that on the completion of the audits the airports would be certified.
‘Against the backdrop that no airports are certified in Nigeria, NCAA is working tirelessly to ensure that the Lagos and Abuja airports are certified.
“Work has reached advance stage in those two airports and we hope that sooner than you think, they will be certified,” he said.
He noted that the authority was adequately preparing for the Universal Safety Assessment Audit in June by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
According to him, the authority is currently engaging its workers in rigorous training programme for the ICAO safety assessment.
“On the assessment, there are processes and we have started it in terms of manpower training and retraining, equipment and all the necessary things that needed to be done.
“We are hopeful that we will scale through the assessment by the international body,” he said.
The NCAA’s helmsman noted that a committee has been set up by the Ministry of Aviation to look into the 187 dismissed workers of the authority.
He added that whatever decision reached by the committee would be binding on the authority.
Usman assured that he would ensure safety in the sector before his five years term expires.
Usman was a former Commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) before assuming office as the NCAA’s boss.
