NCAA Sets Up Industry Committee To Review, Audit Aircraft Fuellers

To prevent reoccurrence of recent series of incidents relating to fuel contamination at Nigeria’s airports, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has set up a joint committee and mandated the committee to conduct a wholistic review and audit all fuelers, fueling facilities and equipment from the initial source of the fuel to the point of fueling into the aircraft.
A speech delivered by Capt. Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, NCAA’s Director, Operations, Licensing & Training Standards on behalf of the Director General, Civil Aviation, Capt. Musa Nuhu at the inauguration of the Joint NCAA Audit Committee Of All Aviation Fuel Activities In Nigeria, reads: “Considering the gravity of the situation and the seriousness with which the Authority is pursuing this matter, the Authority has set up a joint committee and mandated the committee to conduct a wholistic review and audit all fuelers, fueling facilities and equipment from the initial source of the fuel to the point of fueling into the aircraft.
This committee has membership drawn from the NCAA, NSIB, FAAN, DSS, NMPDRA and the Association of fuel Marketers in Nigeria. The committee has been mandated to identify all the root causes, proffer solutions and recommendations that would improve the level of safety in the aviation industry in Nigeria. The Terms of Reference (TOR) has been clearly spelt out that would see the committee members tour all over the country to ensure compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements.”
He also recounted that “recently, there have been series of incidents relating to fuel contamination, in particular, that of Max Air fuel contamination in Yola that has generated a lot of attention in the country and all over the world. This has created a negative publicity in the industry and a level of fear amongst the public which is justified. I want to assure the Nigerian public and the world at large that the Nigerian aviation industry and our skies are safe as the NCAA has always been thorough in granting approvals in addition to our oversight responsibilities which include surveillances and audits of all operators involved in the aviation industry to ensure the highest level of safety in our skies as The Authority has not been sleeping and have taken steps in the aftermath of the incidents which included the investigation of all the incidents that have been reported, collaboration with sister agencies in the aviation industry like Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) that issue licenses, and Department of State Security (DSS). This collaboration with NMPDRA has yielded positive results so far as the collaboration has led to the identification of all non licensed fuelers and those with expired licenses in Nigeria that has led to suspension of all their activities in the airport in Nigeria. Furthermore, an All Operators Letter (AOL) has been issued mandating all Operators to comply with all requirements for fueling as approved. The Authority has also heightened its surveillance to ensure complete and full compliance.”
“As for the committee, this is a national assignment that must be taken with all seriousness that it deserves. You must not leave any stone un-turned and come up with recommendations that would help prevent future occurrence and improve the level of safety in the industry. We must build the trust of the Nigerian public to the highest level we can achieve,” said Dambazau.
He applauded the Managing Director Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Director General/CEO of Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the Director General Department of State Service (DSS), Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) and the Association of Marketers for this joint effort and collaboration in the interest of public adding that “Nigerians should be rest assured that the recommendations from this committee would be fully implemented in the interest of the public and safe air travel in Nigeria.”
It is necessary to note that this particular move by the NCAA constitutes part of the proposals of Nigeria’s foremost aviation NGO, Aviation Safety Round Table Initiative (ASRTI), in its Business Breakfast Meeting.