It was miracle Nigeria scored 71% in ICAO audit-NCAA

…Says Keyamo, Najomo met decayed infrastructure

Nigeria would have scored 30 per cent in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit rating but for the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Acting Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Capt. Chris Najomo’s doggedness in closing the gaps noticed by the global aviation regulatory according to the NCAA.

The Director, of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu also dismissed claims that Keyamo led Nigeria to failure in the last year’s Universal Security Audit Programme-Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), describing it as untrue and wicked.

He stated that the duo of Keyamo and the Acting Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo were pivotal in ensuring that the country closed all noticeable gaps that made the country score poorly with 71.04% in the initial score recorded by Nigeria.

He further affirmed that the duo and other critical personnel for the audit were pivoted to the ICAO’s 71.04%  rating following their leadership skills and dexterity in mobilising manpower and resources to ensure all open gaps were closed else Nigeria would have scored 30 per cent in the outcome.

The NCAA spokesman described as mischievous comments by commentators that both the Minister and DG, CAA were responsible for the allegedly poor ratings the country achieved affirming that both came into office barely months ago and went to work immediately to improve on the deteriorating infrastructures and poor remunerations of workers they met on ground.

Achimugu said, “Six months ago, we met a dilapidated industry with poor infrastructure. The security and safety issues did not start in the last six months. Had it not been for the tireless efforts of the Minister and the DGCA, what we met on the ground would not have scored 30% in the audit.”

“Going by what was on the ground when Keyamo and Najomo assumed office, the current score is a substantially good showing, a miracle if I must say. The narrative being pushed out is just part of the larger strategy to push out Keyamo and Najomo from office. It is the handwork of paid mercenaries who have just one task.”

He affirmed that “The ICAO auditors praised our performance during their final briefing at the NCAA. They even mentioned a scenario where they complained about an absent infrastructure but, to their pleasant surprise, it had been made available the very next day! They said that only Nigeria moves at such a pace in the face of criticism. If the ICAO experts were pleased, who are these puff puff experts to try to deceive the people?”

Achimugu stated, “We have actual Intel about a media team being commissioned to cause continuous chaos until Keyamo is either removed or moved elsewhere because certain people want to take back ownership of the contracts they were busy allocating themselves and family members while critical infrastructure was growing dilapidated. We will resist every attempt to deceive the Nigerian people, he added.

“They know this and it is why they are relentless in their fight. But the Minister and the NCAA will do everything to sanitize aviation. We are working and it is evident.”

“It is ironic that the writer blames the ‘failure’ of the security audit on the  Minister (meaning that the Minister should have intervened and done whatever was necessary to score higher), but also blames the Minister for “intervening” in security and safety issues. He needs to decide if he wants the Minister to be involved or not.”

Recall that Keyamo had early this year explained reasons Nigeria performed abysmally poor at the recent Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) saying inter-agency rivalry amongst the Chief Executive Officers and lack of coordination cost the nation so much.

Nigeria scored five points short of the 75 per cent benchmark which in aviation is considered to be below pass mark of 75%.

It was the first time in 15 years the sector would fail the mandatory audit. However, it was given the statutory 60 to 90 days lifeline to close all identified gaps by the global aviation regulatory body

Wole Shadare