The Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah has presented a new aviation policy intended to bring new and sustainable regulatory structures into the industry for security and safety of airline passengers and crew.

Also, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Folu Akinkuotu has stressed the need for stronger regulations on the aviation industry in Nigeria, stating that 65 per cent of accidents were due to human error and decried an alleged laxity in the operations of the NCAA.

Oduah said the aviation policy was last reviewed12 years ago. The minister presented the new policy, tagged “The Revised National Civil Aviation Policy 2013” (NCAP), to aviation stakeholders and the public yesterday at the headquarters of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja.

Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation reform, Ms. Ann Enne-Itta, the minister said the policy “identifies and addresses the overall benefits of connectivity and globalization of our economy, with particular emphasis on investment in airline operations, infrastructure and collaboration with private sector, local communities and other stakeholders”

While stating that the revised policy has encapsulated the new vision and mission of the aviation master plan, Oduah also disclosed the areas, which the new policy covers to include: state safety programme; accident investigation and prevention, monitoring and control of general aviation; introduction of an effective search and rescue mechanism as well as the development of an effective and sustainable economic regulatory framework.

The revised NCAP 2013, according the minister, goes in sync with section 769(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 and consists of 10 critical parts of the aviation industry, which “would be reviewed every five years or when necessary.”

Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, George Ossi, represented by Clement Dosunmu, while speaking earlier urged the field operators to keep the ministry abreast of the implementation constrains, adding that the new policy holistically reviewed the policy system, regulatory environment, safety and enabling environment for investors.

Chief Executive Officers of Overland Aviation, Med-View airlines, IRS airlines and the chairman of Quit Aviation Services, in their goodwill messages, commended the minister for coming up with the new policy, stressing that the previous policy had become cumbersome to implement.
http://flynaija.org/trasnformation-in-aviation-sectors-as-minister-unveils-new-policy/