The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it is
currently conducting economic and financial audits on eight domestic airlines
in the country.
Musa Nuhu, director-general, NCAA, said this on Wednesday
during an interview with journalists in Lagos.
Nuhu said the aim was to determine the ‘health conditions’
of airlines in Nigeria.
“We are currently conducting financial and economic audits
of airlines in the country. We have done two or three and other airlines will
be taken in batches. I will discuss with the airline’s management on the way
forward,” he said.
“We have a financial
crisis, and we don’t want it to cross over into a safety crisis. We need to
manage the situation.
“For now, we remain focused while working to address the
solution to the financial difficulties in the airlines. This cannot go on
forever. So, we are working round the clock to find a solution.
“Yes, it is a very difficult situation, but we are just
going to do what we are doing. We are working together and collaborating with
others to address the situation in the industry.”
The director-general added that NCAA was doing its best to
keep the industry safe.
According to him, anything that affects safety will not be
compromised, adding that airlines should stop operations than witness a major
incident.
“Safety is paramount to us,” Nuhu said.
Meanwhile, following the suspension of Dana Air and Aero
Contractors, the number of scheduled domestic operators dropped to eight from
10.
Speaking on Dana’s suspension, Nuhu said following the
financial and economic audit of the airline, NCAA discovered some “grave
concerns” in its operations that could affect safety.
He, however, said the airline’ audit was still ongoing, and
the agency would give it a clear chance to resolve whatever issue it was
having.
“While Aero Contractors voluntarily suspended its
operations, NCAA grounded the services of Dana Air following its alleged
failure to run safe operations,” he said.
“The remaining eight scheduled airlines are Air Peace, Arik
Air, Max Air, Green Africa, United Nigeria, Overland, Azman Air and Ibom Air.”
Nuhu further decried the current difficult operating
environment for airlines escalated by the scarcity of foreign exchange and the
high price of Jet A1 fuel.
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