NOVEMBER 9, 2017

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF AVIATION SAFETY ROUND TABLE INITIATIVE (ASRTI/ART) CONFERENCE, 2017 HELD AT GOLFVIEW HOTEL & SUITES, GRA, IKEJA, LAGOS ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017

TOPIC

  Nigerian Aviation Infrastructure: Development And Challenges

RESOLUTIONS

  • There should be corporate governance and transparency in the business of managing the aviation sector, such that government and other parties in infrastructure-related commercial agreements in the industry should respect the terms of such agreements if the industry is to move forward. Therefore, existing concession/agreements that have developed into controversies affecting the entire industry should be resolved immediately in the interest of the industry. Also, political interference should be avoided in the sector’s regulatory activities.
  • There is need for establishment of an Inter-governmental Agency Stakeholder Group led by the regulator for administration and management of BASA funds for the implementation of aviation development plans.
  • Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs), Multilateral Air Service Agreements (MASAs) and routes are the nation’s infrastructure or assets, while air traffic rights are like oil blocks and therefore, should not be treated with levity in administration and exploitation. Therefore, BASA funds should be used for safety-critical infrastructure development as provided for by the Civil Aviation Act 2006.
  • There is need for surveillance cameras in and around every airport in Nigeria to be complemented with the establishment of Cyber security Emergency Response Team (CERT) to enhance Aviation Security. Additionally, there is need to enhance the airport perimeter fences where there are no security fences to sufficiently comply with Annex 17.
  • With the increasing importance of Information Technology for massive efficiency, effectiveness and profitability in air transport, an integrated aviation communication infrastructure should be established.
  • With increase in traffic and number of aircraft in the Nigerian airspace over the years, the existing CNS/ATM Systems need to be optimized while improvements should be made to match capacity at the airports with adoption of satellite and digital technologies.
  • There is need for local airlines to pull resources together and establish a local maintenance hangar as a way of minimizing their aircraft maintenance cost.
  • For Nigerian airlines to attract funding facilities from financiers, most of who are outside Nigeria, the parameters for eligibility include viability, capacity and the ability to earn foreign exchange in view of the weakness of the local currency. Therefore, we urgently call for regulatory consolidation process that increases the minimum fleet for AOC issuance for scheduled passenger airline operations from two aircraft to twenty (20) aircraft.
  • The observed huge human capital deficiency in the industry needs to be rapidly addressed by establishing Human Capital Development Plans, Succession Planning and mentoring programme across the industry and organizations, with huge investments.

Dr. Gabriel Olowo FNIM, FITP,

President