Regulatory inefficiencies, decay facing aviation sector – Reps
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation and other stakeholders in the aviation sector have identified regulatory inefficiencies, infrastructural decay, financial instability of airlines and policy and other factors as the major challenges facing Nigeria’s aviation sector. They stated this at a one-day ‘Capacity Development Training and Retreat for Strategic Stakeholders in Aviation Industries’ held […]
Members of the House of Representatives during plenary on resumption from their annual recess at the National Assembly in Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Aviation and other stakeholders in the aviation sector have identified regulatory inefficiencies, infrastructural decay, financial instability of airlines and policy and other factors as the major challenges facing Nigeria’s aviation sector.
They stated this at a one-day ‘Capacity Development Training and Retreat for Strategic Stakeholders in Aviation Industries’ held in Abuja on Monday.
Themed: ‘Reinvigorating the Nigerian Aviation Industry through Strategic Stakeholders Engagements: The Role of National Assembly, they noted that only drastic reforms will reposition the nation’s aviation sector.
Speaking, one of the resource persons and a former member of the House, Ossai Nicholas Ossai lamented that despite all efforts to reform the sector, it is still facing challenges due to factors that have not been properly addressed.
He said “Despite several waves of reforms, the Nigerian aviation sector continues to face significant challenges such as: regulatory inefficiencies, infrastructural decay, financial instability of airlines and policy inconsistency.
“The Era of Safety Reforms and Regulatory Strengthening (2000-2010) was driven largely by a series of fatal air crashes that exposed deep-rooted systemic failures.
“Notable incidents, such as the Bellview Airlines crash in 2005 and the Sosoliso Airlines crash the same year, the Civil Aviation Act of 2006, was enacted to strengthen safety regulations.”
In his opening remark, Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Abdullahi Idris Garba stated that, as key regulatory agencies in the aviation sector Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have a great role to play in the transformation of the sector in line with global best practices.
He acknowledged that the National Assembly will as a constitutional duty ensure that the sector is adequately funded while the needed infrastructure is also put in place to ensure both safety, competitiveness and contributions to the nation’s economic development.