Bill to repeal civil aviation act 2006 passed by Senate

• Piece of legislation I’ll establish rules of operations-Adeyemi

Many of the challenges facing Nigeria’s aviation industry may have come to an end as the Senate on Tuesday passed the Civil Aviation Bill 2022, which seeks to repeal the Civil Aviation Act 2006.

The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Aviation.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, in his presentation, said the aim of the bill was to provide an effective legal and institutional framework for the regulation of civil aviation in Nigeria to conform with the standards and recommended practices set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

He added that the piece of legislation would, among others, establish rules of operation and divisions of responsibility within the Nigerian civil aviation system in order to promote aviation safety.

Adeyemi said the bill would “ensure that Nigerians obligations under International aviation agreements are implemented, and consolidate the laws relating to civil aviation in Nigeria.”

He added that “the bill when passed will be applicable to all persons holding licenses that have been issued or validated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.”

Nigeria, over time, has experienced the absence of enabling laws to provide a safety net for professionals in the aviation sector. This might have prompted President Muhammed Buhari’s request for sending the bills to the Senate and House of Representatives for amendments.

With the amendments, the federal government wants the power to regulate the industry to be fully bestowed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), so the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would now be known as the Federal Airports Administration of Nigeria.

Both chambers of the National Assembly Committees on Aviation began the process of amending the Civil Aviation Acts early last year with a three-day public hearing on six executive bills.

The bills, which sought to amend certain aspects of the Acts establishing the six agencies were forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and passage into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2019.

The agencies included the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, (NCAT) Zaria, Accident Investigation Bureau, (AIB), and Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NIMET).

The request was contained in a letter addressed to the Nigerian Senate and read by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan at a plenary session.

The letter read in part: ‘’Dear Distinguished Senate President, Transmission of Six Aviation Sector Bills to the National Assembly for consideration and passage into law. Pursuant to Section 58 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I formally request that the following six bills be considered for passage by the Senate. While I trust that these bills will be expeditiously and favourably considered by the Senate, please, accept Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.’’

The bills are ‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Establishment Etc.) Act, 2003 and to enact the Nigerian Meteorological Agency Act to Provide for the Regulation of Meteorology and Related Matters (HB.464); A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, CAP. N96 LFN, 2010 and to enact the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Bill to provide for its Organisation, Control, and Operation and for Related Matters (HB.463); A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency Act, CAP N90 LFN, 2010 and to enact the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency Act for the purposes of Providing Effective Air Navigation Services in Nigeria, Ensuring Safety and Regularity of Air Navigation Services and for Related Matters (HB.462).

Others are A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and to enact the Civil Aviation Act, for the Regulation of Civil Aviation in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB.460); A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau for the Regulation, Prevention and Providing Effective Administration for Safety Investigation in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB.465); A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Act, CAP F5, LFN, 2010 and to enact the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Act to Provide for the Effective Management of Airports in Nigeria and Related Matters (HB.461).

Wole Shadare