Some aviation stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the federal government to ensure air transport safety.
The stakeholders made their views known in interviews on Sunday in Lagos, advising the government to intensify efforts at aviation safety.
A former Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) spokesman, Yakubu Dati, told journalists that the authority and the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA) had shown commitment to improved air transport.
Mr Dati said Nigeria had recorded reduced air incidents and expressed delight at inter-agency collaboration in the sector.
He praised the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for efforts in taking Nigeria’s aviation industry to greater heights.
“However, more needs to be done, of course, in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards to be able to ensure that we operate on the same platform with others.
“It is when you have a trained manpower that you will be able to compete and operate internationally, especially in the area of safety and security,” Mr Dati said.
Ekip Eso, the president of the Akwacross Aviation Professionals Association, hailed the NCAA for effective regulatory functions.
Mr Eso said FAAN was ensuring that airport runways were intact, carrying out rehabilitation when necessary.
“FAAN ensures removal of aircraft tyre coatings from the runway because, for every aircraft landing, the tyres are coating on the runway. That coating is being removed, which is called de-rubberising. This will enhance the friction.
“On the side of NAMA, it is working on navigational services and training and re-training air traffic controllers. It has worked on its radios; navigational facilities are up to date, and they are all functioning.
“When you aggregate all these functions, it will sum up to what Nigeria is doing to ensure a safe airspace,” he said.
Mr Eso, however, urged more training for aviation personnel and procurement of all relevant equipment.
NAMA’s managing director, Umar Farouk, said the authority has successfully installed the Instrument Landing System in some airports to ensure seamless navigation.
Mr Farouk, represented by NAMA’s director of air traffic services, John Tayo, told a stakeholders meeting recently that the agency had also resolved an issue with radio frequencies 127.3 and 120.9 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Also, the managing director of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku, said the de-rubberisation of runways across the country had been a top priority for the FAAN to ensure safety.
She added that FAAN had made significant progress in wildlife management despite still facing bird strikes.
(NAN)
