IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE Of NAIJA)- The Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Musa Nuhu, says it is currently conducting economic and financial audits on eight domestic airlines to determine their ‘health conditions’
He said this on Wednesday during an interview with journalists in Lagos.
“We are currently conducting financial and economic audits of airlines in the country. We have done two or three and other airlines will be taken in batches. I will discuss with the airline’s management on the way forward,” he said.
The director-general added that NCAA was doing its best to keep the industry safe.
According to him, anything that affects safety will not be compromised, adding that airlines should stop operations than witness a major incident.
“Safety is paramount to us,” Nuhu said.
Meanwhile, following the suspension of Dana Air and Aero Contractors, the number of scheduled domestic operators dropped to eight from 10.
Speaking on Dana’s suspension, Nuhu said NCAA discovered some “grave concerns” in its operations that could affect safety.
He noted that the airline’ audit was still ongoing, and the agency would give it a clear chance to resolve whatever issue it was having.
“While Aero Contractors voluntarily suspended its operations, NCAA grounded the services of Dana Air following its alleged failure to run safe operations,” he said.
“The remaining eight scheduled airlines are Air Peace, Arik Air, Max Air, Green Africa, United Nigeria, Overland, Azman Air and Ibom Air.”
Nuhu further decried the current difficult operating environment for airlines escalated by the scarcity of foreign exchange and the high price of Jet A1 fuel.