The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo, on Wednesday, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to civil aviation safety and achieving safety standards in the aviation industry.
Keyamo gave the assurance when he met with the visiting team of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Abuja, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.
The ICAO team’s visit is precipitated on the much-awaited audit of the nation’s airports and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme.
Addressing the ICAO team, Keyamo said the Federal Government had spared no effort in preparing for the audit.
He said. “Nigeria is fully aware that ensuring safe, secure, efficient and environmentally-friendly civil aviation system, with modern and adequate infrastructure require adequately funded autonomous Civil Aviation Authority and an Independent National Safety Investigation Bureau, together with well-established aviation service providers.
“In its bid to ensure continuous compliance with ICAO Standards and to meet the challenges of a rapidly growing air transport sector, Nigerian Government has continued to maintain and to reposition the industry for efficiency and the path of sustainable growth.
“Whilst Nigeria is not new to audits, no stone was left unturned in the preparation for this audit, to ensure a significant rise in the effective implementation of all the safety functional areas. Safety remains Nigeria’s priority, non-negotiable and it supersedes all other considerations for civil aviation.”
On the role of the ICAO team, Keyamo said: “Nigeria no doubt recognizes the role of ICAO which is aimed at constantly addressing and enhancing global aviation safety through coordinated activities.
“It is noted that the mission you embarked upon to Nigeria is a very important one aimed at, not only promoting global civil aviation safety through the monitoring of Contracting States’ safety oversight capabilities but improving their systems”.
