Fidelia Okafor

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), yesterday while briefing the aviation journalists, said it will step up efforts to ensure safety in the aviation sector.

The agency said that in 2016, that there was zero accident and it will continue to sustain zero accident in the sector and would review and strengthen economic regulation, improve consumer protection and prioritize staff training during the year.

Director General of the agency, Capt. Muhtar Usman, therefore called for support and constructive criticisms to help the agency realise their objectives.

He said it was sustaining zero accidents through an increase in safety oversight, wider and more regular surveillance, stringent enforcement of regulation as well as appropriate sanctions to apply.

Usman also stated that in reviewing and strengthening economic regulation, the NCAA would ensure that the regulations were much more far-reaching and also that airlines operational books will be cited with increased regularity.

The DG also spoke in the area of improved consumer protection stating that its Consumer Protection Department will be highly motivated, as well as be visible at the airports and would work with security agencies to stem passengers’ rage which has become a new phenomenon at the airports due to the high level of airline disappointments.

Usman noted that training remains a key project of the NCAA as all staff must be trained local or foreign where applicable to accelerate of next generation of professionals and cement the industry replacement for aging.