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Nigeria passes ICAO audit assessment

From Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos

The Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) of the Nigerian aviation sector conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has ended with the country coming out successful.

The global aviation body, after a two-week oversight assessment of the country’s aviation sector, authenticated the progress and development of aviation in Nigeria.

Though, the four-man team of auditors is expected to submit a comprehensive report within the next 90 days, the auditors during presentation of preliminary audit result at the closing meeting gave Nigeria a pass mark, saying the country had done excellently well.

The presentation was presided over by the team leader, Mr. Jean-Claude Waffo, who was joined by three other members to present their assessment.

However, the final report is to be produced and sent to Canada for a review and final assent. This will be done only when comments on the draft report have been received from Nigeria, it was gathered.

A statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Sam Adurogboye, said each member gave an individual assessment of all the delineated areas while articulating all their systemic findings in the course of the 11-day audit.

The areas of focus included Legislation (LEG), Organisation (ORG), Accident and Incident Investigation (AIG), Air Navigational Services (ANS) and Aerodrome and Ground Aids (AGA).

Though, there were open areas identified by the auditors, they unanimously expressed satisfaction with the level of improvement in the aviation industry in Nigeria.

Earlier, the NCAA DG in his opening remarks assured the auditors that all the open items would be closed.

“All the lessons learnt from this exercise will be used to enhance the development, safety and security of aviation not only in Nigeria but the whole of Africa,” he said.

Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engr. Saleh Dunoma, also stressed that all areas that require improvement would be expedited and adequately carried out.

Other chief executives present at the meeting were Dr. Felix Abali, Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Engr.Emmanuel Anasi, Ag. Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and directors from all the parastatals.

Miyetti Allah moves to identify criminals

From Itodo Daniel Sule, Lokoja

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) yesterday said it had set up committees across all the local government areas in Kogi State in its effort to criminals operating among the Fulani.

Kogi State chairman of the association, Mallam Jalido Abubakar who made this known during a meeting with security agents in the state, faulted the attribution of kidnapping and armed robberies to the Fulani in different parts of the country.

He argued that the Fulani were mostly the victims in their host communities rather than being the perpetrators of heinous crimes often ascribed to them.

“I will not dispute the fact that we do not have bad eggs among us, but we have set-up committees at the local government level to fish out the criminals, we will get them arrested and they will face the wrath of the law”, he said.

Mallam Jalido commended the police and the State Security Service for honouring their invitation to the meeting which was convened by the association.

He promised that he as the chairman would end the persistent crises between farmers and Fulani herdsmen, assuring that he would seek lasting solutions by promoting dialogue between the parties.

Also speaking, the representative of the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Danjuma Dangiwa Dantata, appealed to the Fulani and their hosts to live together peacefully, urging the umbrella body to monitor heinous crimes allegedly committed by young Fulani men.

Dantata warned that the Kogi State Police Command would not hesitate to deal with anybody caught promoting violence, kidnapping and robbery.

The representative of State Security Service, Mr. Zarma Yussuf, stressed the need for the Fulani and their host communities to shun acts inimical to peace and security.