Falling Naira will not compromise air safety, says NCAA

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has assured the flying public that the depreciating value of the Naira in the foreign exchange market would not compromise standard and safety in the sector, particularly in flight operations by airlines.

The assurance came amidst complaints by some airlines that the tumbling value of the Naira in the international market was adversely affecting the cost of doing business, especially the mandatory regular check up and repair of aircraft as well as the procurement of spare-parts.

As a result of the fallout from the falling value of the currency, some airlines were already muting the idea that the maximum 18 months mandatory period for regular repair of aircrafts, be increased to 24 months.

The agency’s acting General Manger, Public Relation, Sam Adurogboye in an interview with The Guardian yesterday warned any airline with that view to bury it, since according to him, “NCAA would not under any guise compromise the mandatory 18 months regular check up for all aircrafts operating in Nigeria, which is a fundamental integral part of the safety guidelines all the stakeholders have signed to, it is just not negotiable.”

Adurogboye who maintained that the greatest thing the agency held to its heart is safety, stressed that no aircraft would be allowed to be in the Nigerian airspace or operate from Nigeria one day after it is due for a regular check up, adding that NCAA has the record of when all the aircrafts flying the country airspace must go for check up.

He said to know the importance NCAA attached to the mandatory exercise, the agency without the knowledge of the concerned airline, always sent one or some of its staff to the country or place where the check is being carried out, to monitor it while the concerned airline must also submit to the agency the certificate certifying that the exercise had been duly carried out.