Aviation
Rep. seeks special forex intervention for local airlines
Rep. Nnolim Nnaji has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to approve a Special Forex Intervention Retail Sales for airlines in the country.
Nnaji, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, made the call during the 25th Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony, orgainsed by the League of Aviation and Airports Correspondents (LAAC) in Lagos on Friday.
Nnaji said that the forex intervention by the Apex bank would ensure easy access to Forex by the airlines to settle their obligations and reduce airfares.
The lawmaker said the operators had been complaining about their inability to access the required Foreign Exchange to settle the backlog of their obligations which had adversely affected their operations.
He said the access to forex was important because aviation sector was critical to the nation’s economy.
Nnaji said that the CBN should take the right decision that would strengthen existing airlines and inspire confidence in aspiring operators.
He said: “We have succeeded in getting zero duties for the airlines for the purchase of spare parts. Another issue that they are battling with is the issue of forex.
“Since they buy most of the aircraft spare parts abroad, it is important that they have access to forex.
“This is because the aircraft need to be in the sky all the time because the more you move, the more money you make so that you can pay their bills.
“We would want the Central Bank of Nigeria to create a window for Forex because it will help reduce the airfare in the long run.”
Nnaji said he did not know how the ban on Forex to Bureau De Change would affect airlines, but he had learnt that the black market rate had gone up.
According to him, the federal government did not do much in terms of bailout for the airlines.
He said that the cost of the engine of a Boeing aircraft was close to $10 million and what the government provided for all the local airlines was about N4 billion.
“When you compare what our airlines got to other countries, you will find out that they didn’t do much for the industry.
“The aviation industry is a very expensive business and most people do not break even.
“What they just succeed in doing is to just keep the business going because everything about the industry is offshore and that is a challenge,” he said.
By Seun Ibiyemi
Ethiopian Aviation University has graduated close to 800 aviation professionals including international trainees from eight African countries and one from Asia.
The graduation ceremony which took place at the university’s facility, last week 2024 was graced by Ambassadors and Officials from African countries including Ethiopian Airlines Group executives, families and friends of the graduates.
The graduates were trainees in Ethiopian Aviation University’s Pilot, Aviation Maintenance, Cabin Crew, and Commercial Training programs.
Congratulating the aviation professionals, Ethiopian Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mesfin Tasew, said, “We are delighted to witness the fruits of our effort in realising a self-sufficient Africa, in terms of aviation professionals supporting the industry within the continent.
“We believe in the potential of Africa’s youths to shape the continent’s aviation and continue to educate them at our centre of excellence.
“Training globally competitive professionals, today, we graduate 308 aviation maintenance, 142 pilots, 297 cabin crew, 25 electro-mechanical professionals, and 15 ticket agents. I urge Africans to invest in training their youth for the future of aviation at Ethiopian Aviation University.”
Since its establishment in 1956, Ethiopian Aviation Academy, upgraded to a university level recently, has been offering various aviation courses to local and international trainees.
The university currently offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in aerospace and hospitality including BSc in Aeronautical Engineering, Aviation Maintenance Engineering, Aviation Management & Operations, BA in Tourism & Hospitality Management, MSc in Data Science, and MBA in Aviation Management.
Ethiopian Aviation University continues to offer diploma and certificate programs in aircraft maintenance technician, pilot training, cabin crew, commercial training, leadership, career development, catering training, ICAO courses, and online courses. In addition to its facility at Addis Ababa, Ethiopian offers aviation training in regional cities, including Hawassa, Dire-Dawa, Bahir-Dar, and Mekelle.
By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigeria’s performance in ICAO’s USAP-CMA, ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme Continuous Monitoring Approach Sustainability Indicator is 71.04 percent.
This figure represents the country’s average Effective Implementation (EI) of the eight Critical Elements (CEs). It regards the number of satisfactory Protocol Questions divided by the total number of applicable PQs related to that CE.
Previous audit comparisons
Nigeria scored 96.3 percent in the 9-day audit conducted in June 2015. The current result saw the country losing 25.26 percent. The country also went through a safety audit in 2008 where it scored 67 percent and just last year 2023, it scored 70 percent.
Historically, the audit system has changed over time since Nigeria embarked on the audit in 2008. Back then it was an assessment system called the security assessment, it metamorphosed into Universal security audit programme and from 2014 it became the ICAO USAP-CMA. Nigeria is one of the first countries in the world to go through ICAO USAP-CMA in 2015 as it is now known.
The present audit revealed the country’s Compliance Indicator for Annex 17 Standards are 59.82 percent. The decline in Nigeria’s performance in the ICAO USAP-CMA highlights significant areas for improvement. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial for enhancing national and global aviation security.
The USAP-CMA aims to improve aviation security compliance by analysing Member States’ performance and implementation of security standards. It focuses on Annex 17: Security Standards and Annex 9: facilitation compliance, along with associated procedures and security practices.
The goal is to enhance the implementation of security standards and recommended practices, identify security deficiencies, and facilitate the resolution of these deficiencies to improve overall aviation security.
According to a statement by FAAN in March 2024, Team Lead of ICAO Security Audit Programme, Callum Vine, announced Nigeria’s strong performance during a debrief after the audit. However, the results are the complete opposite, with the country’s Compliance Indicators dipping.
Detailed assessment of Nigeria’s security performance
Nigeria was judged based on the General Principle, Organisation, Preventive Security Measures, and Management of Response to Acts of Unlawful Interference. Under the General Principle, Nigeria scored 72 percent in its Objectives, 0 percent in applicability, and 100 percent in International Cooperation. Nigeria’s performance in ICAO’s USAP-CMA.
In the Organisation category, the country scored 54 percent in National Organization and Appropriate Authority, 71 percent in Airport Operation, and 44 percent in Aircraft Operations. For training, qualification, and security culture, Nigeria received a score of 55 percent, while in quality control, it scored 40 percent. Conversely, Air Traffic Service Providers received a perfect score of 100 percent.
Regarding measures relating to passengers and their cabin baggage, 50 percent furthermore in measures relating to cargo, mail, and other goods, and 60 percent in measures relating to hold baggage. Moreover, the country scored 86 percent in measures relating to special categories of passengers and 100 percent in measures relating to landside.
However, due to national security concerns, this publication will not discuss the other security critical elements of the audit.
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA has confirmed radar footage of the two recent airspace violations in Abuja.
The Authority said it has full details of the identities of the aircraft and operators involved in the two violations cases.
This successful identification the Authority attributed to the functionality of Nigeria’s Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) system. Specifically, the Primary and Secondary Surveillance Radars located in Abuja.
Ag Director General, Captain Chris Najomo, further stated that the Authority investigated recent violations in the prohibited flight zones (DNP4) in Abuja. Both violations involved controlled flights in controlled airspace, which strayed into restricted zones due to adverse weather.
In a signed statement, Captain Najomo clarified that the term “unknown aircraft” is standard security terminology reported to the NCAA. NCAA confirms radar footage of violators.
This clarification became necessary following reports that labelled Nigeria’s airspace as unsafe without explaining the technical terminology used. Captain Najomo explained, “For clarity, the Primary Surveillance Radar identifies aircraft as moving targets without revealing their identity. The Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR), a key TRACON component, identifies aircraft equipped with ATC Mode ‘S’ transponders.”
Additionally, Najomo emphasised that upgrading Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure, such as radar systems, is standard global practice.
He said, “Five additional MSSR stations in Obubra, Ilorin, Talata Mafara, Maiduguri, and Numan support the TRACON at four major locations.
“We must update these systems regularly as technology evolves, and the Authority’s continuous oversight has found NAMA effective in this regard.”
Moreover, Captain Najomo also cited international standards for aircraft in controlled airspace. He stressed a rule: all controlled airspace aircraft must have functioning ATC transponders.
This aligns with international regulations (Annex 6, Convention on International Aviation) and is documented in Part 7 of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations. Turning it off in controlled airspace is a violation and security breach.
Furthermore, he stressed that the NCAA will enforce this with appropriate actions, including possible criminal referral.
Speaking on welfare, Captain Najomo acknowledged recent interventions to improve remuneration and working conditions for Air Traffic Controllers.
Moreover, he stated that the NCAA had intervened in a dispute between ATCOs and NAMA regarding the need for better remuneration and working conditions.
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