NCAA: FG working to make acquisition of aircraft easier for local airlines

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says the federal government is working to make the acquisition of aircraft easier for local airlines.

Chris Najomo, the acting director-general (DG) of NCAA, spoke on Friday during a training programme for the consumer protection portal.

Najomo said Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation, has been in discussions with companies like Boeing and Embraer to facilitate dry leasing for Nigerian airlines.

A dry lease is when a lessor leases an aircraft to a lessee without pilots or crewmembers. The lessee takes on operational responsibilities, such as crew members and maintenance.

Najomo said these efforts will soon yield results, enabling local airlines to acquire and utilise more aircraft to avoid delays and cancellations of flights.

“The minister has been doing a lot to assist in this direction by going round to talk to airplane makers and other players on how to get aircraft,” Najomo said.

“He has been engaging Boeing, Embraer, and others on how to secure dry leasing for our local airlines and he has done so much.

“Very soon you will see that result will come out so that our airlines will be able to get airplanes and bring them in for use.

“It’s capacity that is making what we’re having, having all these delays and cancellations and all these airlines will key into it. Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, they’re all doing everything possible to get dry lease aircraft. That is the way to go.”

Najomo also said NCAA is refining the policy requiring Nigerian carriers to maintain a minimum of six aircraft, to ensure it aligns with the operational scope of each carrier.

He said it will take effect in 2025.

Also, the acting DG said the authority is set to digitalise its operations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its oversight duties.

According to Najomo, the portal would not only expedite the resolution of passenger complaints but also serve as a tool for assessing the performance of both domestic and international airlines operating in Nigeria.

He said the capacity-building programme is designed to equip airline personnel and regulatory officials with the necessary skills to address frequent passenger complaints, particularly those related to delayed or canceled flights and other service failures.

To support this initiative, Najomo said the NCAA is enhancing its operational responsibilities by adopting the latest information technology applications.

“We have gone far. We started this MPIC process two years back and now we’ve had some trainings,” he said.

“Our staff have been trained and the system is being deployed. This software will digitalise the whole system, including the AOC system, certification, recertification and licencing.”

‘TRAINING FOR NEW PORTAL BENEFICIAL’

Najomo also discussed the benefits of the training and the new portal, noting that it will enable real-time monitoring of airline performance and passenger handling procedures during checking, boarding, disembarkation, and discomfiture.

He stressed the importance of the training sessions, which are intended to ensure that all stakeholders understand how to effectively use the new portal.

Although the portal has not been launched, Najomo expressed confidence that the training would be beneficial for everyone involved.

On July 20, the NCAA announced plans to launch a consumer protection portal to address complaints within the aviation sector.

NCAA said the portal will be launched in August.