After months of remedial work and remodeling of facilities
at the Murtala Muahmmed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, the Nigerian
Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has certified the nation's busiest airport for
meeting global safety and security standards as prescribed by the International
Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
By Chinedu Eze
This is the first international airport out of the four that
would be certified in the next few weeks; the others are the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja, the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano
and the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
With the certification, the Lagos airport would now be cited
among the standard airports in the world and airlines, which hitherto could not
operate to the airport due to lack of categorisation can now operate to the
airport.
The certification is also expected to bring down insurance
premium on Nigerian airlines and the airports, as insurers describe the
Nigerian operational environment as hostile but the certification shows that
the airport and the other international airports that would soon be certified
have met all safety and security standards in tandem with other major airports
in the world.
Speaking at the event in Lagos yesterday, the
Director-General of NCAA, Muhtar Usman, said the current drive towards the
certification of Nigerian airports was very significant not only as a
requirement by the ICAO and Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, but even more
importantly as one of the critical safety targets set by the Abuja Ministerial
Declaration of July 2012, that mandated all
African states to certify their
international airports.
"The certification is an enabler for the attainment of
a regional hub which Nigeria desires for Lagos and Abuja. It is an enabler for
airports in its territory to meet regulatory safety requirements on a continous
basis, and that it is providing uniform conditions for safe and efficient
operation of aircraft from all other States, as required by Article 15 of the
Chicago Convention.
Aerodrome Certification is therefore an ICAO strategy for
the standardisation and harmonisation of airport services, facilities and
procedures, as well as ensuring uniformity in safety critical aerodrome
elements irrespective of differences in ownership and management of such
aerodromes," Usman said.
He also said that the certification would assist states to
effectively implement the critical elements of a safety oversight system in
accordance with Annex 14 Vol. I, and other relevant ICAO specifications.
Usman noted that the certification would signify to aircraft
operators and other organisations operating at the aerodrome that, at the time
of certification, the aerodrome meets the specifications regarding its
facilities and operations, and that it has, according to the certifying
authority, the capability to maintain these specifications for the period of
validity of the certificate.
He remarked that NCAA is required to immediately commence
the implementation of a post certification surveillance plan for the continuous
monitoring of airport services, facilities, procedures and manpower levels to
ensure that the Acceptable Level of Safety is not infringed on.
The Director of NCAA said:" In the regulatory body's
safety oversight responsibilities, it would ensure compliance with ICAO and
national regulations at all times, and where necessary, sanctions would be
imposed or certificate suspended to enforce compliance with standards."
Similarly, FAAN has the utmost responsibility of operating
the Murtala Muhammed Airport in accordance with ICAO standards and recommended
practices, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations, as well as any special
conditions on which the certificate is issued.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is also required
to promptly notify the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of any changes in
aerodrome services, facilities, procedures or staffing levels that can affect
the certification of the aerodrome.
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