‘Why U.S. FAA is keen on auditing Nigeria’s aviation sector’

As the March 30 date set for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandatory assessment of Nigeria’s aviation draws near, there are indications that the happenings in the country’s aviation sector over the past 12 months may have prompted the planned audit.

A Ministry of Aviation source, who spoke to Daily Independent under conditions of anonymity said happenings especially in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), prompted the audit by the U.S. safety inspectors.

The source said the FAA specifically wrote to NCAA, seeking to check its books on the recent issuance of Air Operators’ Certificates (AOCs), to some new airlines in the country, which did not go through due process.

“FAA in its letter to NCAA specifically requested to see the papers leading to the granting of AOC to Hak Air and some other airlines granted certificates in 2013. You know, there were speculations that some of the airlines issued AOC in 2013 did not follow the due process and that they were favored by the government.

“Also, FAA is concerned about the interference in the running of NCAA by the government. NCAA is supposed to be autonomy and it’s expected to do its job professionally, but recent happenings in the agency call for concern. The FAA feels if the interference in the agency is not stop, it might eventually affect safety in the sector.”

Source:   http://dailyindependentnig.com