- He clarifies that the crashed aircraft is not linked to NCAA’s Director of Airworthiness, Engineer Glolahan Abatan, who only provided services to the plane’s owners through his former company, Air First Logistics
- Nuhu expresses confidence in NSIB’s capabilities and advises against speculating on the crash’s cause
The Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, has called on the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to expedite its investigation into the light airplane crash that occurred along Oba Akran Road in the Ikeja area of Lagos.
He clarified that the ill-fated aircraft was not linked to NCAA’s Director of Airworthiness, Engineer Glolahan Abatan, who had previously operated Air First Logistics as his own company. Captain Nuhu emphasized that Abatan’s firm only provided services to the aircraft owners and did not own the crashed plane.
He urged against any criticism of the regulatory body and expressed confidence in NSIB’s capabilities to determine the cause of the crash during a Zoom meeting, stating that it would be premature and unprofessional to speculate on the reasons behind the accident.
Describing any comment on the cause of the crash as unprofessional, Nuhu said : ” The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has the capability to investigate the cause of the crash.
“I cannot comment on the cause. It is very unfortunate and it was just by the grace of God that it wasn’t disastrous. I have full confidence in the ability of the NSIB, people should avoid mere speculation, NSIB will release the report very shortly but what I have found disappointing is the comments against the. Director, Airworthiness Services. The Director of Airworthiness is very competent and before he was seconded to the NCAA, he had a life, he does not own the aircraft, he submitted letters of resignation from all the companies he worked for, and he is even the one that has identified some of these illegal fuel companies, despite unnecessary dragging of his name.
“Abatan has done a great job for us since he came on board. Before he took over the NCAA job, he was doing well as a private entrepreneur and in line with the civil service rules, he resigned properly from Air First Hospitality and Tours. The aircraft in question doesn’t belong to him, but he manages it. I think we should not demonise him for whatever reason.”
On the forthcoming audit, Nuhu disclosed that the Authority is working 24 hours to close some gaps identified at some airports, revealing that the audit would take place from August 30 to September 11, 2023.
Nuhu has stated that the new civil aviation regulation that stipulates at least six aircraft for start-up airlines was deliberate to ensure the health of any airline that is coming into the aviation industry.
He, however, admitted that many of the country’s airlines do not have the capacity to meet their current financial obligations.
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