Stories by Abel Orukpe,
Lagos
The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Muhtar Usman, has called on Public Relations and Information managers in the aviation agencies, as well as local and foreign airlines to do a critical review of information dissemination during accidents and incidents.
He made this call while delivering a keynote address during the maiden interactive meeting of all the information managers in the industry at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex, international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.
He charged the information managers present at the interactive forum to tinker with the subsisting approach of information flow, when there is an accident or incident.
Usman called for an integrated and unified approach among all information managers during emergencies.
Speaking further, he said “We should put on the table a synergy and a robust working relationship within this group. When I say all of you, this includes the public relations apparatchik of NCAA.
“If we commence integrated information, there will be a concerted approach when there are accidents and incidents. On the reality, airline operations worldwide are not without its fair share of incidents,” he added.
The NCAA director general stated that the public character of aviation imposes on it a dual role.
Commercial airlines, he stated, should advance their private interest, stimulate growth and compete in the realms of operations, but that this should be done in line with the provisions of NCAA’s regulations.
He declared that in Nigeria today, there are 30 certified air operators, over 400 in-service aircraft registered in Nigeria and that in addition, there are close to 46 corporate jets, 130 helicopters and 100 foreign registered private jets.
Usman assured Nigerians that the NCAA would continue to progressively strengthen oversight responsibilities to entrench safe and secure air transportation in the country.
He reminded debtor airlines to clear all outstanding indebtedness as the regulatory authority would soon commence severe sanctions on all defaulters.
Source : Independent
