The Avia tion Round Table (ART) has been a consistent advocate of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s (NCAA) autonomy consistent with the Act establishing it and global best practices.

ART president Air Commodore Ademola Onitiju who said this in his welcome address at the Breakfast meeting of the group emphised that this is to ensure  it is adequately  insulated from short-term political pressure.

He said in the  Nigerian circumstances, the NCAA is expected to be both benign and harsh in its  spontaneous enforcement of standards and rules to retain our trust.

“We have advocated times without number, the importance of  constituting governing boards for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other aviation agencies in the Nigerian aviation sector. “

These Boards,he noted will not only assist the DGCA and other CEOs in formulating enduring policies for the agencies but will also serve as the barometer for ensuring  the good corporate governance practice of transparency, accountability and responsibility which will cascade down to all segments in the sector.”

“ Corruptive tendencies often associated with political interference will be appropriately checkmated and curbed by a focused and knowledgeable board. We urge the Minister of Aviation to do the needful.”

For us in the ART, he continued, the interest of the Nigerian State and her people must be paramount at all times.

This,he further said  necessitated  ART  renewed call for a comprehensive review of Bilateral and Plurilateral Air Services Agreements to suit our present circumstances.

“ART has, on several occasions recommended the development of a local hub to effectively protect local airlines against the predatory  foreign airlines granted multiple entry into local destinations.”

“ The ART has variously embarked on policy advocacy on the need to balance the interests of local tourism players and  the need to encourage the growth of budget airlines.”

He told the gathering that as  attractive as  Open skies might appear to be, modifications as would stimulate fair competition and  reciprocal rights must be observed.

“In our view,Open skies is not devoid of regulation. There must be a balance between its tenets and the national interest. The  recent commendable audacity of the Air Peace Airline to embark on the Lagos- London Gatwick route and the dust it generated is a case in point. The Nigerian State must rise up in defence of its own without apology !”

ART condemns knee-jerk reaction to aircraft  incidents and accidents as dangerous and hurtful. Incidences of runway incursion and excursion are not unusual in aviation practice.

“Runway excursion prevention is complex because the effect of the risk and resilience factors is highly cumulative. Some of the factors that contribute to runway excursions include but are not limited to -the runway condition, maintenance and reporting.”

“ To this list, add- aircraft performance and operations, collaborative approach path management and adherence to robust policies for safe descent and approach planning, stabilised approach, safe landing and go-around.”

Speaking further,Onitiju  said the solution to these challenges can only be done together by the NCAA and theNigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) in a coordinated way not through arbitrary pronouncements that are not only meddlesome, dangerous and risky but violates due process.

“At the ART, we aggregate consensus on global best practices and interventions on regulatory recommendations in furtherance of our cardinal objectives which is the advancement of aviation in Nigeria through constant engagement with the government and leveraging on platforms such as today’s event to embark on knowledge sharing with the industry’s stakeholders eminently represented in this hall, by your good selves.”

“The ART stands for excellence in all human endeavours. At today’s session we shall acknowledge publicly before your very eyes, our pillars of strength. In the collective is an iconic individual of multiple parts. He is of royal descent whose second name is excellence, another one- the King of the Sky whose name is synonymous with flying in the Nigerian Aviation landscape.”

“ In fact, he is a skipper for all seasons- the Learned Commander of Aviation Law having trained and qualified as a legal practitioner. There is also the great scholar,author, hospitality guru and an astute administrator through whose hands many of those making waves today in travel agencies & tourism in the Nigerian aviation sector earned their stripes.”

“We also have included in this list of eminent personalities, a citizen of the world and Nigeria’s worthy ambassador to global aviation and a formidable regulator par excellence. There is also a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic who is a veteran aviator and gentleman with a fine blend of business acumen as part of our treasure.”