Due to recent incidents in the aviation industry, Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captian Muhtar Usman, has directed an immediate commencement of a comprehensive audit of all airlines operating in the country.

The measure is aimed at forestalling further incidents and ensures the sustenance of the confidence of air travellers in Nigerian airspace.

Captain Usman said the directive would help the operators and stakeholders to identify lapses and redress them accordingly, adding that it would forestall complacency among airline operators and ensure that they continue to demonstrate absolute compliance to NCAA’s regulations.

According to him, the exercise is in line with the Authority’s regulatory and oversight responsibilities.

 “NCAA’s Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) will continue to intensify the routine Ramp inspections with eagle eye attention to fine details.”

A statement by General Manager, Public Affairs, NCAA, Fan Ndubuoke, said: “The pockets of incidents that have occurred recently are being viewed seriously by the NCAA and this wholesale audit is one of the measures taken to forestall further incidents and ensure the sustenance of the confidence of air travellers.”

Captain Usman however, urged pilots to take precautionary measures during all adverse weather conditions.

“There should be strict adherence to states’ weather minimal and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).”

He assured Nigerians that the regulatory authority would continue to ensure its zero tolerance for non compliance to regulations is strictly upheld.

“Airline Operations in Nigeria will continue to be done according to the Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) thereby ensuring safe and secure operations,” he added.