Fuel Contamination: Committee to review, audit fuellers, facilities inaugurated by NCAA
A Joint committee has been set up by the Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu to audit the activities of Aviation fuelling activities in Nigeria.
This is just as he assured Nigerians that the recommendations from this committee would be fully implemented in the interest of the public and safe air travel in Nigeria.
The committee members comprises the NCAA, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) that issue licences, and Department of State Security (DSS).
Director, Civil Aviation, DGCA Capt. Musa Nuhu said, the Committee’s duties is to identify all the root causes, proffer solutions and recommendations that would improve the level of safety in the aviation industry in Nigeria.
Capt. Nuhu represented at the inauguration of the committee by Capt. Ibrahim Bello Dambazau Director, Operations, Licensing & Training Standards, NCAA said, the committee became necessary following the recent, series of incidents relating to fuel contamination, in particular, that of Max Air fuel contamination in Yola that has generated a lot of attention in the country and all over the world.
He said, the committee is to conduct a wholistic review and audit all fuelers, fueling facilities and equipment from the initial source of the fuel to the point of fueling into the aircraft.
Capt. Nuhu urged members of the committee, to see this job as a national assignment that must be taken with all seriousness that it deserves.
“You must not leave any stone un-turned and come up with recommendations that would help prevent future occurrence and improve the level of safety in the industry”.
He added, that the Terms of Reference (TOR) has been clearly spelt out that would see the committee members tour all over the country to ensure compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements.
“The Authority’s foremost responsibility is to ensure the safety of aviation activities in Nigeria which we have continued to ensure and we would not relent on this effort towards achieving the highest level of safety in this sector. The Presidency and the Honourable Minister have directed that this investigation must be brought to a logical conclusion in the interest of the Nigerian populace”, he added.
The DGCA noted that the collaboration with NMPDRA has yielded positive results so far and this has led to the identification of all non licensed fuelers and those with expired license in Nigeria that has led to suspension of all their activities in the airport in Nigeria.
The Authority also mentioned that surveillance has been heightened to ensure complete and full compliance, adding that an All Operators Letter (AOL) has been issued mandating all Operators to comply with all requirements for fueling as approved.
“The Authority has not been sleeping and have taken steps in the aftermath of the incidents which included the investigation of all the incidents that have been reported, collaboration with sister agencies in the aviation industry. We must build the trust of the Nigerian public to the highest level we can achieve”.
