NCAA audits eight domestic airlines for economic, safety status

August 04, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has said that it is carrying out economic and financial audits of the remaining eight domestic airlines in the country, in order to determine their health conditions.

Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General, NCAA, in an interview with aviation journalists on Wednesday, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, said that the regulatory body was already carrying out intensive financial and economic audits on at least other three indigenous airlines, while the others would be done in batches.

The number of scheduled domestic operators nosedived to eight from 10 about a week ago, following the suspension of operations by two airlines.

While Aero Contractors voluntarily suspended its operations, NCAA grounded the services of Dana Air, following its alleged failure to run safe operations.

The remaining eight scheduled airlines are Air Peace, Arik Air, Max Air, Green Africa, United Nigeria, Overland, Azman Air and Ibom Air.

Though Nuhu didn’t mention the three airlines the regulatory agency was presently conducting economic and financial audits on, but a source close to the agency confided in our correspondent that Max Air and Arik Air may be among the airlines.

Nuhu, however, lamented the current difficult operating environment for operators, which was further escalated by the scarce of foreign exchange and the skyrocketing price of Jet A1, but said NCAA would not relegate safety to the background.

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He said: “We are currently conducting financial and economic audits of airlines in the country. We have done two or three of the airlines and other airlines would be taken in batches. I will sit down and discuss with the management on the airlines on the way forward.

“Like I said, we have a financial crisis and we don’t want it to cross over into a safety crisis. We need to manage the situation. For now, we remain focused, while working to address the solution to the financial difficulties in the airlines. This cannot go on forever. So, we are working around the clock to find a solution to the problem.

“Yes, it is a very difficult situation, but we are just going to do what we are doing. We are working together and collaborating with others to address the situation in the industry. We, at the NCAA, are trying our best to keep the industry safe. Safety is paramount to us. Anything that affects safety will not be compromised or whatsoever. It is better for the airlines to be shut down than having a major incident or accident.”

Besides, Nuhu shed more light on the suspension of operations of Dana Air.

According to him, during the financial and economic audit of the airline, the NCAA discovered some “grave concerns” in the operations of the airline that may affect safety.

He, however, said that the audit of the airline was still ongoing, adding that the agency would give the airline a clear chance to resolve whatever issue it is having.

“What we found out was of grave concern to us. Investigations are still ongoing, we are still talking to the management of Dana Air”, he said.