ABUJA (Federal Ministry of Aviation Report) – The Federal Ministry of Aviation has reported that activities of the Ministry in the month of May 2014 were guided by the efforts to upgrade its existing infrastructure as well as equipment aimed at enhancing the safety and security in airports, provision of quality training for required manpower in the sector and increased contribution to Nigeria’s GDP as well as employment generation.
This was contained in the monthly review of activities published by the Press and Public Relations Department of the Ministry recently. According to the report, Government’s determination to improve on the facilities and infrastructure in the aviation sector through the Federal Ministry of Aviation has brought about upgrade in safety and security equipment, improved standard of customer service and upliftment in the level of involvement of the sector in the development of the economy.
The report indicated that during the period under review, there was interface between the Ministry and MDAs such as the Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment, the National Planning Commission (NPC), Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), the Federal Public Administration Reform (FEPAR) and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) towards providing enabling environments for local and foreign investors in the Aviation sector.
“The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) in the period under review completed various professional courses with eight hundred and seventeen (817) graduates. The Ministry and its Agencies also stepped up their internally generated revenue with the aim of becoming self-sustaining to reduce the burden on Government,” the report said. Adding, efforts were made to derive maximum benefits from the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) as well as the ‘Open Skies’ and ‘Commercial Agreements’ through reviewing of the commercial agreements with some foreign airlines.
The Press and Public Relations Department reported that the Ministry has improved tremendously on the level of security at the airports through the provision of security equipments for intelligence gathering and surveillance, training of personnel, collaboration with other security agencies, perimeter fencing as well as increased patrol around the airports with 100% checks on both human and vehicular movements around the airport vicinity.
On infrastructure development, the report listed some of the projects completed within the period to involve the procurement of equipment & consumables, the construction and equipping of maintenance workshop facilities and automatic weather observation system for meteorological stations nationwide and the establishment of a major accident investigation fund as required by ICAO in Lagos. Also engaged is ongoing accident investigation exercise and accident reportage.
The report further revealed that the Ministry of aviation has improved on safety measures such as promulgating a new Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation to meet ICAO requirements, engaging strict enforcement of safety regulations, accomplishment of ICAO safety and security follow-up audits, re-certification of the industry’s airlines, airports as well as aircraft and aviation safety personnel.
Other safety improvement measures adopted comprised: ensuring infrastructural rehabilitation through runway resurfacing, perimeter fencing, building of a new control tower, total radar coverage, wind shear alert equipment, modernization of landing, navigational aids and total VHF coverage.
Also mentioned was the implementation of Aircraft Tracking System to improve on search and rescue capability. It added that the Aviation Ministry implemented the States’ Safety Program and Safety Management System for airlines and service providers, saying there was increased certification and surveillance of foreign and domestic carriers. “The Ministry is currently executing projects aimed at fast – tracking the development of air navigation infrastructure to world class level, in order to enhance safety, pilot-controller communication, surveillance and air traffic management,” the report stated.
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