Nigeria

1) What have been your achievements in CAA and aviation in your country in 2022 ?

The House of Representatives deemed it appropriate to pass six amendment Bills on Aviation brought by the executive to the National Assembly. Among the six amendments passed, Bill for an Act to repeal the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Enact the Civil Aviation Act for the Regulation of Civil Aviation in Nigeria and for related matters. Similarly, the Senate on the 25th of January 2022, passed the Civil Aviation Bill 2022, which seeks to repeal the Civil Aviation Act 2006.

Regulation

Airline operators who were able to scale through their acquisition of Air Operators Certificate (AOC), under Nuhu’s regime have attested to the fact that NCAA is in top compliance of pursuing its regulations for both airlines and other stakeholders in the industry. Similarly, United Nigeria Airlines, Green Africa Airways, Value Jet, another commercial airline also got its AOC recently after passing through rigorous examinations and test flights in line with ICAO SARPS and best practices.

Enforcement

Meanwhile, part of NCAA’s achievement is his strictness in enforcing the rules of the game. In March last year, under the eagle eyes of the regulator, the, NCAA, pursuant to Section 35 (2) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3 (A) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015, suspended the operations of Azman Air, Dana Airlines and Aero contractors (scheduled services)

Strategic Management of Flight Resumption: Post Covid-19

The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 brought lots of devastating effects in the aviation industry which is seen as most hardly hit. Obviously, it became clear that flight operations in the post Covid-19 era will not be business as usual. When it was time for the resumption of both local and international flight operations, many countries CAA started to strategies on how to survive the pandemic. Capt. Nuhu showed its professional prowess by developing and implementing the COVID-19 industry restart program before ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART)

Global Impact

Although, aviation is not local; however, The Management of NCAA with the entire staff has further brought NCAA back to the Global Aviation Centre Stage through the hosting of the 7th African Indian Ocean (AFI) Regional Meeting held in Abuja from 16th -20th May 2022. This was a gathering of titans in the industry, hosting of ICAN from December 5^th-9^th, 2022.It was also on record that newly elected African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) Secretary-General, Ms. Funke Adeyemi, a Nigerian got her appointment during Capt. Nuhu’s era.

2) What are your challenges and how can AFCAC assist you?

You recalled that in November, 2022 at the launched of the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project (PIP) which culminated in the Celebration of YD IN Dakar, Nigeria with the other 17 African Countries signed the commitment to the full implementation. However, the challenges towards the implementation of SAATM PIP in Nigeria are enormous, but it is pertinent to mention some of the challenges that are serving as impediments to the successful implementation of the project.

• Lack of co –operation from the francophone countries in granting of operating authorization to Nigerian designated airlines. It took my intervention for airlines like Air Peace to secure operating authorization from Togo despite the number of frequencies granted to Asky Airlines into Nigeria;
• Multiple taxation – this has put some of our airlines out of business, there are a lot of irrelevant charges that are imposed on Nigerian carriers which has put some of them out of business;
• Inadequate infrastructure resulting in sub standard passenger service
• Cost of Fuel –accounting to 40/50 operating expense of every airline. In Nigeria, JET –A1 are often not available and expensive, this has put some airlines away from Nigeria;
• Limitation on the capacity of airline in the midst of regional competition. Lack of our National carrier to utilize the agreed routes within the region is barrier to the full implementation of SAATM PIP

AFCAC needs to create more awareness on the full implementation of SAATM PIP within the stakeholders, especially by sanctioning countries that are not complying with the terms and conditions required of such country

AFCAC Workshop that was organized during the ICAN 2022 in Abuja is one of the various ways to create awareness.

3) Your commitment to SAATM: how are you going to proceed with the implementation?

• Signing of BASA with the other 17 countries that are committed to the full implementation of SAATM PIP based on the provisions of unrestricted first to fifth freedom traffic rights on Passengers and full liberalization on Cargo;
• Granting of Multiple designation as well as entry points on reciprocity basis;
• There is need for regulatory reform to prevent abuse of market power,
• There is need for harmonization of taxes within the region, most especially some charges and administrative obstacles that run counter to the provisions of SAATM,
• Encourage our airlines to use the right aircraft for a particular routes, at times this reduce the cost of maintenance and charges incurred. For example, most of our airlines should be encourage to deploy aircraft like CRJ -200, ATR 72-500 on the routes;
• The need for a National Carrier to take the advantage of the project, because the private airlines have not been able to consummate up to ten percent of the BASA that Nigeria has with other countries. This put Nigeria in a very disadvantageous position in Africa;
• Nigerian Government needs to create enabling environment for Nigerian airlines to thrive -Nigerian Government needs to grant the requisite permit and designation to the domestic airlines that has the capacity to operate-Recently, United Airlines and Ibom Air has been designated on regional routes to join the other airlines that were designated before, for it to take the advantage of the SAATM PIP;
• Nigeria follow-up with applications received from designated Airlines of SAATM members States, on submission of documentation for the issuance of operating authorization and grants the Foreign Carrier Operating Permit (FCOP) with utmost dispatch as well as issuance of Air Carrier Permit (ACP) to deserving domestic airlines.

4) What can you say about SAATM PIP?

SAATM Pilot Implementation Project (PIP) launched in November, 2022 in Dakar with a commitment from 18 African Countries in view of the slow pace of the implementation of SAATM.

AFCAC suggested thinking outside the box by approaching it in another way; this gave birth to SAATM PIP with some countries to drive the project.

It is intending to accelerate the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) which will lead to the full and sustainable implementation of the SAATM in Africa

It is a welcome development and Nigeria is fully committed to its implementations. SAATM PIP emphasizes that alliances and complementary efforts would enable SAATM succeed.

It means pooling of resources together to improve intra-Africa connectivity as well as opening up the air space for free movement of passenger’s access to the African region – especially the 5^th freedom traffic rights

SAATM PIP proposes to deliver increased air travel with easy routes, access as additional capacity on every route leading to healthy competition. Furthermore, opportunities for commercial arrangements in partnership and alliances will be an available attraction that will encourage the deployment of aircraft with passenger comforts among others.

SAATM PIP in the region is expected to lead the evolution of other business   models with standards such as airport lounges, hangers, airport tourism eve hub-and-spoke airports etc. among others, with wealth distribution within the African States.