The Federal House of Representatives has adopted the recommendations of its Committee on Aviation, which called for immediate removal of Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Hanold Demuren for negligence of duty.
Hanold it was who allegedly brought in the MD83 that crashed and killed over 150 Nigerians recently to operate in the country even when there was no licensed engineer rated on the aircraft.
The report of the committee, headed by Nkiruka Onyejeocha, which was adopted and passed on Wednesday, bemoaned the inability of Nigerian airline operators to access money from the bank, as it usually comes with stringent collateral conditions and short repayment term.
The committee noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) N200bn Aviation Intervention Fund was used to refinance existing facility with banks instead of improving the services and capital needs of airlines.
In another finding, it noted that Air Nigeria, through United Bank for Africa (UBA), accessed N35.5bn from Federal Government Aviation Intervention Fund and diverted it to other businesses. It found out that there is no functional and well-equipped maintenance hanger of international standard in the country.
In other findings, it noted that the Airfield Lighting System, which has been the statutory responsibility of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as stipulated in Part II Section 3 of its Act in Cap F5 Law of the Federation of Nigeria, was transferred to Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) by the Federal Ministry of Aviation in violation of the provision of the existing law; that Ghana’s Accident Investigation Department has released an interim report on Allied Airline crash, blaming it on wet runway, pilot error and aqua planning; and that the Dana aircraft that crashed in Lagos is 22 years old.
In its recommendations, it stated that Dana current AOC should be revoked because it was not issued in compliance with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Civil Regulations Guideline 2009; that NCAA inspector, Engineer Suleiman Akwuh, who conducted the pre-arrival inspection of the ill-fated Dana Aircraft without prerequisite professional qualification, should be dismissed from service; and that the director-general who approved and deployed the officer should be sanctioned for professional negligence.
These recommendations, it said, were based on the fact that NCAA, under the leadership of the current Director-General, Dr. Harold Demuren, brought in MD83 to operate in Nigeria even when there is no licensed engineer rated on the aircraft; that for the period under review, Dana operated 14 air returns caused by system failure, which is a sufficient indication of imminent danger; that up to the time of this report, NCAA is still without any licensed engineer type-rated on MD83 yet it has been conducting technical audit on Dana operations with a view to restoring its license —an action that amounts to negligence; and that the tenure of the current director-general of NCAA had expired since three months before the Dana crash occurred on 3rd June 2012.
“So the current Director General of NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren should be removed from office for professional negligence and incompetence … The staff strength of NCAA should be totally overhauled with a view to injecting technically and professionally qualified personnel to enhance its regulatory role in accordance with international best practices,” the committee stated.
The committee further recommended that the investigation report of Bellview Airlines and other accident investigation reports should be revisited; that NCAA should compel all airlines involved in accidents to settle all outstanding insurance obligations and ensure that current operating AOCs have reliable insurance cover as required by the Civil Aviation Regulations; that the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) should be properly equipped with modern laboratory facilities to enable it discharge its responsibilities; that MD83 aircrafts should be phased out of the aviation industry, as NCAA has no certified engineer on MD83 in its employment more so that the aircraft has been decommissioned by its manufacturers; that the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and indeed Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) should be properly equipped with well-trained staff and equipment for the purpose of responding promptly and adequately to air accident in the country; and that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Aviation, should create incentive for indigenous airlines by providing special intervention fund to encourage growth in the aviation industry.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria should recover the N35.5bn, which was extended to Air Nigeria through UBA but was diverted to other uses. The Federal Government should endeavour to put in place a hanger of international standard to reduce cost of aircraft maintenance by airline operators in Nigeria,” other recommendations read.
“The Air Field Lighting System should be returned to FAAN without further delay. An age limit of not more than 15 years should be placed for new acquisition for passenger aircraft and 20 years for cargo aircraft. NCAA should carry out post-accident regulatory oversight duty on Allied Air immediately after the conclusion of investigation and report by Ghana Accident Investigation Department.”
